The four Labour leadership contenders have defended using taxpayer funded flights for their campaigns, saying they will have to pay most of the other costs.

Say what you want about John Key, but he's so relaxed he's horizontal, writes Mike Hosking. He's real, and he loves it. Why couldn't David Shearer do that?

Attempts to put a ban on the word female in Labour have failed. It seems to be like having a sore tooth they can't help poking, despite the pain, writes Claire Trevett.

Labour leader candidate Grant Robertson has been accused of being too beltway so he has trimmed the size of his belt, losing 20kg over the past 10 months.

The Labour Party is doing itself no favours with the way it has decided to elect its leader.

Former minister Judith Collins is getting sympathy from unlikely places after she was denied the title "The Honourable" by Prime Minister John Key.

Resource Management Act reform will be aimed at housing affordability, building and construction minister Nick Smith has told a summit today.

Our official watchdogs on food safety in the Ministry for Primary Industries need a reminder of whose interests they serve.

Last-minute Labour leadership contender Nanaia Mahuta wants to assert the Maori and Pasifika presence as the party rebuilds.

David Shearer has delivered a blunt message to Labour's former leader David Cunliffe: quit Parliament altogether. He explained his thinking to the Herald.

Labour's leadership contenders appear to think they are involved in an extreme version of the Hokey Cokey, writes Claire Trevett.

Labour MP David Shearer has ruled out a tilt at the leadership after weeks of speculation he would try to get his old job back.

The latest leadership crisis in the Labour Party comes on the heels of years of resignations, criticisms and a lack of confidence.

Claire Trevett writes: So Labour has its leadership barbershop quartet, and although each member is singing to the same audience they are at a very different pitch.

David Parker has confirmed that he will be bidding for the Labour Party leadership, saying the party's forthcoming 100th anniversary milestone must not become a tombstone.

I was once at a party where a child was attacked by one of the host's two rottweilers. Fortunately, there were many people nearby so the dog's teeth and the child's throat were soon parted and the boy suffered no grievous harm.

Labour's acting leader David Parker is expected to put himself forward for Labour's leadership tomorrow.

Someone ought to put David Cunliffe out of his political misery. He has allowed his nomination for the Labour Party leadership, which he gave up last week, to go forward - but he should reconsider.

He is confident he still has a significant core of support in Labour caucus despite the entry of Andrew Little yesterday.

Labour's latest leadership hopeful admits he may be the underdog but his entry could throw the contest wide open if he can persuade enough MPs he's what the party needs.

Andrew Little's not the "compromise" candidate, writes John Armstrong, rather, he's astutely pitched himself as the "unity" ticket in this campaign.

Andrew Little would be the first List MP to lead the Labour Party if he is successful in his bid as leader, but says that is not necessarily damaging to his chances.

Andrew Little, who is running for the Labour leadership, is a lawyer and union leader who has risen quickly through party ranks. He also knows how to dance.

Andrew Little has confirmed he'll contest Labour's leadership, pitting him against former leader David Cunliffe and Grant Robertson for the top job.

New Napier MP, Labour's Stuart Nash says an email linking him to a Dirty Politics figure didn't force him out of his party's leadership race.

The Prime Minister might get to choose who sits where in the Cabinet and on his front bench, but it seems National's caucus has a far more anarchic pecking order - one based on speed and punctuality just once every three years.

Sir Roger Douglas writes: The election was an absolute disaster for Labour. The party's inability to deal with the result is apparent for all to see.