Labour's leadership woes are the gift for National that keeps on giving, writes John Armstrong. "But it will only keep on giving for as long as National is careful not to disturb the unhappy equilibrium."

Political commentator Josie Pagani had a daunting entrance into politics.

David Shearer's vision is for a New Zealand known the world over for smart thinking and really smart businesses taking the world by storm, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Labour Party leader David Shearer is now assured of maximum public attention when he addresses the party's annual conference on Sunday.

The writing is on the wall for David Shearer. Or at least the writing is all over the blogosphere and pundit columns, says Dr Bryce Edwards.

This weekend's conference is Shearer's first as leader. He should be given that opportunity to prove his critics wrong, writes John Armstrong.

Labour leader David Shearer is brushing off a crescendo of calls for him to step down by left-leaning bloggers and commentators, saying it is "nonsense".

David Shearer has been wholly unconvincing - seeming not only to lack a real understanding of the issues, but the conviction of his words, writes Tapu Misa.

As Police Minister, Judith Collins made an ally of the metal crushers, took on the boy racers and won.

The promise to deal with alcopops has been reduced to a provision that will allow a future government to act on them at some unspecified time, writes Claire Trevett.

Labour says it has not taken a position on whether to back the United States proposal for a large reserve in the Antarctic's Ross Sea.

Appeals to patriotism seek to tap the most accommodating of instincts. They can also be the most dangerous of tools. That's why Labour's work restrictions won't work.

The saga of the Ministry of Social Development's failings certainly drew attention away from that ugly wart of what John Key knew and when about Kim Dotcom, writes Claire Trevett.

Housing NZ spent $1.6 million on security firms last year for work which included monitoring about 355 houses which were sitting empty waiting for tenants.

Labour leader David Shearer has refused to comment on reports that his press secretary's partner was the source for apparent GCSB leaks.

Kim Dotcom has issued a call for whistleblowers to leak information about his case to the media in the wake of spy and police blunders.

The GCSB started an investigation into its staff last night after the Labour leader said he'd been leaked information about John Key's knowledge of the Dotcom case.

Labour could learn a lot from the chocolate wars - that bitter contest that played out on the bloody battlefields of the supermarket shelves in 2009, writes Claire Trevett.