There was a moment, when David Cunliffe and I were in the bush, when he looked completely Prime Ministerial. That comes, literally, down the track.

Labour leader David Cunliffe's student-friendly promises earned him a mostly warm reception on the campaign trail.

Hone Harawira sees the Internet Mana alliance enduring beyond the election because he and Laila Harre are synchronizing so well.

In the lead-up to the election, the Herald is delivering political leaders as they're meant to be seen. Under the grill.

Epsom election candidates faced off at a public debate last night, with one promising to name a convicted sex offender with name suppression under parliamentary privilege.

'Do you want to leave now?' asked the host of last night's Helensville debate of Prime Minister John Key - who came closest to being kicked out.

When policymakers in the modern world worry about the cost to future taxpayers of ageing populations, pensions are only part of it - healthcare also contributes to the bill.

The spate of race baiting, ethnic slurs and off-colour jokes that have marred this year's election campaign continued yesterday.

The song that welcomed Labour leader David Cunliffe on stage at his campaign launch yesterday was Don McGlashan doing a cover of Split Enz's Time for a Change.

Labour's health package, along with its recent youth employment policy, lifts its score by $1.36 billion on the Herald's Porkometer.

Labour has opened up a new front in the election, targeting older voters with a major funding injection to pay for free doctor visits for about 700,000 senior citizens.

Labour leader David Cunliffe has announced over-65s will be added to the groups who get free doctors' visits under a major funding boost for primary health care.

Pregnant women would get free dental care, doctors' visits and prescriptions under a Labour Government in a plan to be unveiled at the party's campaign launch.

Election emails fall from time and space on to the desk of columnist Toby Manhire - who shares them with you today. What do the say about NZ politics?

Labour and the Green Party have conceded that a capital gains tax would not be a "panacea" for New Zealand's unaffordable housing crisis.

Labour's plan for a royal commission into the public service to address issues such as poor advice from officials.

Labour Leader David Cunliffe yesterday adopted an even tougher stance on the proposed sale of the huge Lochinver Station to China's Shanghai Pengxin.

Prime Minister John Key says he is happy for a Chinese company to buy a central North Island farm so long as the correct process is followed.

The Labour Party is promising to put $17 million into a new agency to help people on to the right career path.

Less than two months out from the general election, some of our big-gun politicians are already beginning to shoot themselves in the foot.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce has accused Labour of "xenophobia" in their opposition of the potential sale of Lochinver Station.

You cannot teach an old dog new tricks. Or so they say. Well, just try telling Winston Peters that.

Q: I was listening to the radio and I heard a Labour MP say that under Labour not only would KiwiSaver be compulsory but a capital gains tax would apply to it.

Last time I wrote in this esteemed organ, I proffered an idea or two as to why Labour wasn't exactly breathing down National's neck, writes Mike Hosking.

MPs have headed off on the campaign trail with one last blast at their rivals.