Thirty years after homosexuality was legalised in New Zealand, gay and bisexual men with historic convictions may be pardoned.

COMMENT: Politics can be a nasty, thankless business, especially when you're the leader.

Foss' retirement announcement gives English four ministerial vacancies and 10 per cent of seats are up for change.

The National Party has participated in a High Court teleconference today regarding legal action against it by American rapper Eminem.

Paula Bennett talks to political editor Audrey Young about her new backroom role with the National Party caucus.

The very health and safety changes which the Pike River disaster prompted make re-entering the mine difficult, Prime Minister Bill English says.

New Prime Minister Bill English will unveil his new Cabinet on Sunday.

If Bill English was as superstitious as his predecessor, he would be a bit nervous that when he is asked about Andrew Little an earthquake strikes.

Bill English delivered a few surprises in his first media appearance, including poetry, a u-turn on gay marriage and a nod to the trade unions.

New National Party leader Bill English has revealed he would vote in favour of same-sex marriage if another vote was held.

Bill English said he looked forward to leading the country in a statement to the press today.

New Zealand is in good hands with Bill English elected by the National Party as the 39th Prime Minister, John Key says.

This week a new Prime Minister will be sworn in and reshuffles will take place in both Labour and National before MPs slink off for the summer break.

It was out with the old and in with the new on the ninth floor of the Beehive yesterday as PM John Key marked his final day in the job by packing up his office.

Incoming PM Bill English and his deputy Paula Bennett will meet in Wellington today to start hammering out the team they want to take into 2017 election.

Bronagh Key made her first public appearance yesterday since her husband's shock resignation as Prime Minister.

COMMENT: The most common question in politics is, "Why not me?" That's the question National MPs have spent the week asking.

Simon Bridges has withdrawn from the contest to be National's deputy leader today - handing it to Paula Bennett.

The advantage Bill English has when he forms his new Government next week is that he won't be burdened by high expectations.

COMMENT: As we farewell a gifted PM we are about to get a more combative one. John Key's politics have been emollient, Bill English is abrasive.

Reputation studiously rebuilt after a political mauling 14 years ago, the new PM now has chance to right the record, writes Claire Trevett.

Paula Bennett is a handful of votes away from becoming New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister.

New Zealand's new Prime Minister is a former farmer and literature student from smalltown Southland who once described himself as "specialising in being boring".

Incoming Prime Minister Bill English has confirmed that Wayne Eagleson will remain in the influential position of the prime minister's chief of staff.

COMMENT: For a decade National didn't have to think about a leader, now they will be scrambling to make sense of it all, writes Barry Soper.

COMMENT: The stable predictable thing is English for PM, Bennett the deputy and Joyce for finance. Not my ideal, but safe. But is it enough for election year?

COMMENT: Alas, poor John, an ominous rumbling noise started in the bowels of the party's massive backbench rump. It could not be ignored.

COMMENT: 'The personal is political": a slogan that John Key, our outgoing Prime Minister, fudged vigorously throughout his tenure.

Judith Collins has laid out her policy agenda if she is elected Prime Minister.