The naming of election day always intensifies the focus on politics.

Among the new targets set by Bill English, police will be attending 98 per cent of burglaries within 48 hours, up from current rates of 86 per cent.

The English and Bennett team is bigger than the sum of its parts, writes Audrey Young, after the Prime Minister's State of the Nation address.

English says NZ First an 'unlikely' choice of governing partner, saying Nats prefer to stick to their present allies.

New Zealand will go to the polls on September 23, Prime Minister Bill English announced this afternoon.

COMMENT: The new PM spent nearly five hours at the horse sales in what should be a busy election year, writes Audrey Young.

Labour and the Greens say they have dropped plans to cut electoral "deals" in marginal seats,

These are the high points from Labour and Greens' State of the Nation speeches this afternoon.

Andrew Little attacks Bill English, as he reveals his battle with prostate cancer left him determined to strive for a system fair for everyone.

National MP for Rangitata Jo Goodhew will quit Parliament at the election after being dropped from Cabinet.

Bill English's arrival this afternoon was uneventful compared to his first Ratana visit in 2002 - also the first by a National Party leader.

Labour leader Andrew Little says the Maori Party is "effectively the Maori branch of the National Party."

Nearly 5000 people are now in the queue for social housing across the country.

A group of uninsured homeowners in Christchurch have lost their bid to avoid costs for a legal battle with the Government.

COMMENT: Former Clerk of Parliament David McGee says list MPs should not be replaced and electorate MPs should be bonded.

Resignations by MPs has been pronounced since MMP began in 1996, of both of list and constituency MPs.

The European Union seems keen for a trade agreement with New Zealand.

Foreign Minister and East Coast Bays MP Murray McCully's office has been vandalised after New Zealand co-sponsored a UN resolution against Israeli settlements.

COMMENT: New PM finally gets to sit in the "highest-backed chair" at Cabinet unveiling.

National Party has waved the white flag in the upcoming Mt Albert byelection, with Labour accusing Bill English of "running scared" and daring him to call an early election.

Bill English's Cabinet makeover has rewarded two of National's best young ministers with some heavy-lifting duties that will make or break their reputations.

Nikki Kaye is set to become the new Education Minister but her appointment has been put off to allow her to recover from breast cancer treatment.

Four new ministers feature in Prime Minister Bill English's first Cabinet reshuffle. They are Alfred Ngaro, Mark Mitchell, David Bennett and Jacqui Dean.

Isaac Davison profiles two of the new faces in Bill English's Cabinet line-up.

PM Bill English's new Cabinet was a boon for Bridges, and others.

Bill English is expected to give big promotions to ministers Simon Bridges, Amy Adams, and Nikki Kaye, who is recovering from breast cancer.

National Party cabinet reshuffle- Rotorua MP Todd McClay remains Minister of Trade and Minister for State Owned Enterprises- He moves

COMMENT: It's always been my dream to be the interim Prime Minister. And now here I am. It feels...unreal. It feels...not quite real.

COMMENT: This is not a good time to come into the front line of a govt if you are a young, ambitious politician with all the attributes to be a great PM.

The new cabinet Prime Minister Bill English unveils tomorrow will be assembled with two objectives in mind.