Provincial New Zealand wants to shake down the Government for some of the largesse offered to Northland with its byelection promise of new bridges galore.

Prime Minister John Key is relying on National voters flocking to the polls and Labour voters staying home to win the Northland byelection.

What a madcap couple of months. The Northland byelection campaign has had all the infantile pranking, ill-discipline and personal baggage of an Auckland airport carousel at Maadi Cup time. Here, from....

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is the Bear Grylls of national politics. He knows every survival trick going, writes Claire Trevett.

National's Northland candidate, Mark Osborne, has defended his work for a community centre he set up which is now under review by the Far North District Council.

The Government was asked to reaffirm its commitment to upgrade Northland bridges after comments by Finance Minister Bill English caused confusion in Parliament today.

This is what scrabbling for survival looks like. It's a lazy Sunday in Mangawhai and there are a lot of National Party people about.

A narrow win is about as good as it is going to get for John Key next Saturday night after the votes have been counted in that day's Northland byelection, writes John Armstrong.

National MP Shane Reti initially defended himself against bullying claims, but later apologised.

Prime Minister John Key has defended his ministers' use of the taxpayer-funded Crown car service to campaign in the Northland byelection, saying it was within the rules.

A decision on whether John Key's deletion of his text messages amounts to a destruction of the country's public records is progressing.

John Armstrong on the "new" jobs which may or may not be full-time jobs and the "new" promises on broadband which are old promises on broadband.

Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett did not offer the booster "zip it, sweetie," when she acted as birth coach in the hospital delivery room for her daughter on Thursday, Rachel Glucina writes.

John Key's plans to rein in politicians’ pay appear to be in a shambles as critics point out it would actually have delivered bigger pay increases in the long-term.

Despite John Key's claim that such antics are commonplace in by-elections, they are not, writes Claire Trevett. It is more traditional to emphasise how policies already under way will benefit the electorate in question, rather than promise new things.

Yesterday's announcement is classic pork-barrelling, writes John Armstrong. It indicates National is seriously worried that Winston Peters may well carry off a victory.

Prime Minister John Key is unapologetic about rolling out multi-million-dollar promises during the Northland byelection.

MPs will pass a law under urgency on Wednesday to cut their latest hefty pay rise and to index future increases against the same measure that is used for superannuation rises.

National is scrambling all jets to bolster Northland byelection candidate Mark Osborne as polling shows Winston Peters has a chance of taking the traditionally safe Nats seat.

The first poll of the Northland byelection shows NZ First leader Winston Peters has taken an early lead.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges wants to increase the use of electric and hybrid cars in new Zealand

The self-appointed Pied Piper of the North, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, has the words "Follow Me" on the back of his campaign bus.

A move to rein in politicians' pay doesn't give moral authority to the Government in upcoming pay negotiations, public sector representatives say.

New Labour MP Stuart Nash was bankrolled to the tune of $4000 a month by political backers for more than a year leading up to last year's general election.

Exclusive: Flaws in the management of New Zealand's spy networks have been exposed, including problems getting intelligence material to the Prime Minister.

80% of donations to National candidates were channelled through party headquarters.

Analysis of election candidate donations has shown a wide variety of businesses are willing to open their wallets for politicians.

Peter Dunne says he would look at revisiting his post-election concessions from the National Party if New Zealand First leader Winston Peters wins the Northland byelection.

David Cunliffe says National’s chickens are coming home to roost after revelations Donghua Liu donated $25k to a National MP and hosted John Key for dinner.

Political parties are “under no obligation” to provide details of fundraising dinners, Prime Minister John Key says.