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.

Given the already surreal shemozzle the likelihood of more embarrassments emerging should have had National feeling like a lamb to the slaughter.

National's latest bit of tinkering with its immigration policy will not solve the Auckland housing crisis. It will barely touch it.

The Government says a new plan to lure migrants away from Auckland will boost regional economies, but admits it will do little to ease Auckland's housing pressures.

Prime Minister John Key has opened the door to possible restrictions on foreign buyers if information gained shows high numbers of foreigners are buying in New Zealand.

"Spectacularly unsuccessful" is John Key's verdict when asked about following Australia's foreign buyers policy. They are not really telling the whole story, says John Armstrong.

For all intents and purposes National was done like a dog's dinner by Labour this week, writes John Armstrong.

Unfair employment practices including zero-hours contracts are not going to be solved by National's latest measures, politicians and a union representative say.

Judith Collins described a champagne stunt by SFO boss Adam Feeley as an "utter disaster" that threatened to overshadow the Government at a crucial time.

It did not take long. Just three days, if that, for the politicians to get voluntary euthanasia well and truly off the political agenda, writes John Armstrong.

Judith Collins has told a women's magazine she wouldn't have got through last year's Oravida and Dirty Politics scandals if it wasn't for her husband.

Judith Collins tonight released emails that show a $30,000 door that will separate Labour MPs from National MPs sharing a floor in Parliament House was opposed by the National Party.

Nobody likes a nark but there was great entertainment value in Act leader David Seymour dobbing in National MP Maurice Williamson for an apparent waka jumping plot.

Not only will the benefit boost do little to alleviate poverty, but it is accompanied by cuts to other associated benefits and payments, writes Dita De Boni

It is too early in Andrew Little's career as a party leader to be ruling out realistic answers to problems he would face if he leads Labour to power.

Prime Minister John Key says axing the $1000 kickstart grant to new KiwiSaver members in the Budget "will not make a blind bit of difference to the number of people who join".

Former Act leader Don Brash has approached the party to ask whether National MP Maurice Williamson could join, but he has been unanimously rejected.

Keeping silent about axing the $1000 kickstart payment for new KiwiSaver members, isn't a broken promise, strictly speaking, writes Audrey Young.

Russia had a shirtless President, Australia had Tony Abbott in budgie smugglers, and now Prime Minister has added to the catalogue with a shirtless snap.

Thursday's Budget will be judged just as much by what is missing from the document as by what it actually contains.

Prime Minister John Key today rejected claims by Labour leader Andrew Little that National had been dishonest with voters last election.

Act leader David Seymour has criticised the Government for not supporting a version of the Regulatory Standards Bill.

Next week's Budget will outline plans by the Government to develop its own land holdings in Auckland in a bid to boost supply.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has taken Shane Jones, David Shearer and Winston Peters with him for his trip to the Cook Islands, where he is holding talks.