Not so long ago, when trying to capitalise on Labour's campaign against housebuyers with Chinese-sounding surnames, John Key did not believe any measure was warranted, writes Claire Trevett.

John Key was the star guest at a private fundraising lunch for Change the Flag lobby group in a last-ditch bid to raise cash from wealthy Chinese donors.

COMMENT: Key and Kitteridge owe us all, and NZ Muslim women especially, an apology.

The Labour Party is justifiably celebrating a victory on legislation to end "zero-hour contracts" even if it is victory on a fine point of law.

It was an ominous sign when Prime Minister John Key wandered into his weekly post-Cabinet press conference and announced, "I've got a bit of a head cold."

Eight Mile Style LLC and Martin Affiliated LLC, publishers of Eminem's copyrights, accused the party of using backing music to the rapper's song Lose Yourself.

The longer a Government goes on, the more it needs to minimise the fronts on which it can be attacked, writes Audrey Young.

Murray McCully, National's influential backroom strategist for decades, will not stand for re-election. He tells Claire Trevett he's not dead yet.

The National Government will today ignore widespread opposition from ordinary New Zealanders when it signs the secretly negotiated deal, writes Jane Kelsey.

COMMENT: Yes, she has a Machiavellian style, but that hardly disqualifies her for high political office, writes Audrey Young.

Reinstated Cabinet minister Judith Collins says a year on the backbench has given her more confidence and she is looking forward to sorting out the Serco debacle as the new Corrections Minister.

Spare a penny for the poor? This time around, the poor in question are not the homeless or the children, but the MPs themselves, writes Claire Trevett.

COMMENT: The PM's attitude might not be fashionable, but he is about old-fashioned values, teaching women to be seen and not heard, writes Paul Little.

It bemuses me the way the major political parties go to so much trouble to disguise their interest in running Auckland Council, Brian Rudman writes.

Serial litigant Graham McCready filed papers with the Human Rights Review Tribunal in May after an attempt at a private prosecution of Mr Key failed.

National Party figures are behind a new ticket, Auckland Future, being set up to wrestle for control of the Super City at next year's local body elections.

When prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and John Key meet this weekend for their first official talks there will be plenty on the table to discuss.

A push to legalise voluntary euthanasia has been boosted by the Prime Minister's endorsement.

Without a national achievement target, how would the PPTA suggest the performance of the eduction system be checked?

The importance of National's support partners - Act, United Future and the Maori Party - has grown immensely since election night a year ago.

Malcolm Turnbull starts new job as Australian Prime Minister praising John Key, saying New Zealand had a leader whose style should be emulated, writes Audrey Young.

In the space of a week, Prime Minister John Key has performed a rather acrobatic about-flip, writes Claire Trevett.

The Cabinet's response yesterday to the Syrian refugee crisis is no more than a token gesture.

A long list of negative episodes have plagued John Key's third term, ranging from very damaging to trivial.

We are living in an age of spin, writes Peter Lyons. The Roman leaders gave their people bread and circuses. Sadly we no longer get the bread.

I believe we need to hold our Govt, whatever stripe it is, to the task of doing what it is there to do. That's what has driven this column, writes Dita De Boni.

Worm farming is a dangerous industry, according to the Government's health and safety reform bill.

It is crunch time for the economy, crunch time for Bill English and his "steady as she goes" economic plan.

Our senior business leaders are becoming increasingly concerned about the slowing economy, the Government's strategy and our reliance on China and dairy exports.

The Government says it will consider an urgent change to liquor laws after a proposal to allow pubs to open early for Rugby World Cup games was shot down in Parliament.