The Labour Party has selected its first election candidate, picking Michael Wood to take over from longstanding MP Phil Goff as its new Mt Roskill candidate.

COMMENT: House prices are rising at 30 times the rate of inflation. 16,000 houses are year are being bought by foreign speculators. Record numbers are living in cars and garages, writes Andrew Little.

COMMENT: I am pleased for Labour and the Greens. Truly I am. They have tied the knot. They have announced they're together.

COMMENT: People all over New Zealand come up to me on the street and say, "Do I know you? You look familiar. Are you famous?"

COMMENT: Like a good piece of art, the one-page agreement between Labour and the Greens had something in it for everyone.

Labour's West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor won't say whether he supports the new agreement between Labour and the Greens.

The Labour Party surprised many people last week by advocating the complete abolition of boundaries on urban expansion.

Little's pre-Budget speech claiming NZ workers have been cheated out of $50 a week has been dismissed by National as a "list of slogans".

COMMENT: It's hard for Little to win some media coverage - especially when up against a popular PM who has stolen your policies and wears your clothes.

COMMENT: Hallelujah. The political fix at national level on Auckland housing has finally been made.

Labour's push for the Government to abolish Auckland's city limits to get people out of cars, caravans, garages and tents has riled critics but gained support from a business lobby group.

Andrew Little attempted to show reporters an overcrowded house yesterday - but it backfired when the owner insisted it was only being renovated.

COMMENT: It is not often that the big surprise in a Budget is something that will not be in it at all.

Labour leader Andrew Little will tomorrow make a bid to raise minimum standards of heating and insulation for rental properties.

Annette King is a veteran politician who has achieved that rare thing: respect from both sides of the house. Nicholas Jones reports.

COMMENT: At first blush, the Government's invitation to Labour leader Andrew Little to visit the troops in Iraq appeared to be a trick.

COMMENT: Politics can be nasty. It's often incompetent. Somehow Little has managed to plumb new depths.

COMMENT: Frustration at fall in polls will blow over and party's best shot at recovery lies with Andrew Little.

COMMENT: This year it's gone from bad to worse for Labour, writes Barry Soper. Even though John Key lost the flag debate he's untainted with National at 50 percent.

A four-point drop in a Colmar Brunton poll taken for TVNZ last week must be a shock to supporters of the Labour Party.

COMMENT: Every time I think of Labour Leader Andrew Little - which I must confess is getting less and less - I can't help but feel sorry for him.

COMMENT: If I were the Labour Party, looking at five more years without power, I would be doing some serious work on the tax issues coming to light lately.

COMMENT: I thought to myself, "Gosh, Sue, here you are on all fours on the ground - you're a kind of Easter bunny!"

COMMENT: Labour has chosen the right topic but needs to get more specific about the solutions.

The Labour Party appears to be considering a radical new system of social welfare. It is hard to see any real benefit. It would be a universal setback.

Taxpayers' Union says Labour Party plans for "universal basic income" will come with hefty price tag.

Mr Little, though, is better than this. He has the misfortune to be leading the Opposition to a Government whose leader seemingly can do no wrong.

COMMENT: Little can afford to have the occasional bad week. It is the effect on the voter that he needs to worry about more.