Retired accountant Graham McCready is pursuing a private prosecution against the Prime Minister over the Banks' case and says it's not a waste of court time.

New Herald poll shows Internet-Mana would get two MPs, as their success eats into the Greens vote while National is still well ahead of Labour.

Yet another poll - the Herald-DigiPoll survey today - suggests National is heading for a decisive re-election in September.

Ex-NBR owner Barry Colman recently gave the National Party $50,000 - the first time the wealthy publisher's contribution has had to be disclosed.

List MP Claudette Hauiti has been selected as the National Party candidate for Kelston.

Paul Goldsmith was gasping like a fish out of water, writes John Armstrong. When he did find his voice, he made an absolute hash of answering the reporter's questions.

Left leaning political commentator and academic Bryce Edwards has pulled out of Otago University's Vote Chat online politics show over concerns the programme is now dominated by National Party supporters.

With 100 days to go until election day on September 20, the political parties - no doubt fibbing through clenched teeth - profess to be ready. Or close enough.

David Cunliffe may well be proud that red is the colour of socialism, writes Claire Trevett, but he can't afford a re-enactment of Thrones' Red Wedding.

Graham McCready is clearly a winner. He declared the police wrong in not prosecuting Banks. With the indefatigable Penny Bright's help, he got the case to court.

Taxpayer funding for National and Labour's election campaign broadcast advertising has been cut for this year's election but the Greens and NZ First will enjoy a substantial boost.

If John Key expected to be asked the soft questions when he bowled up for Question Time with school children in Niue yesterday, he was sorely disappointed.

Instead of trading personal abuse I challenge Bob Jones to a public debate on drone strikes and our mass surveillance society, writes John Minto.

A wealthy Auckland businessman, whose links to the National Party led to a senior minister's resignation, gave cut-price real estate deals to a Chinese politician.

John Key's National Government is enjoying a Budget lift higher in two new polls, and appears to have moved on from the conflict-of-interest scandals.

Editorial: The Prime Minister made a little-noticed announcement last week that could have much louder repercussions in this year's election campaign.

Prime Minister John Key is predicting a "tight and tough" election with the Government up against a "left wing block" of parties.

Migration pressures which Labour says are contributing to a housing crisis were worse under Helen Clark's Government.

I hate Budgets. I lack the financial analytical skills to be able to see through all the smoke and mirrors and for years they were basically boring.

Finance Minister Bill English may have lived up to his promise there would be no lolly scramble in the Budget.

Social security and welfare spending rises $625 million to just under $24 billion. Much of that is down to a $687 million increase in New Zealand Superannuation payments offset by small falls elsewhere.

Auckland motorways have been paved with gold in the Budget, while not an extra cent has gone to public transport.

Police officers have warned "something will break" if their budget is squeezed any further after the Government sliced a little more off their funding.

Groups fighting a kauri-killing disease are relieved the Government has committed millions more dollars to the battle, allaying fears that research funding would dry up.

The Government is putting another $100 million into getting beneficiaries such as solo parents and the sick into work and stopping them ending up on welfare in the long term.

Tertiary student Chris Wiggins was hoping for a boost for transport in the Budget - and was happy with what was announced.

Editorial: 'Cabinet club' sounds like a privileged circle of wealthy people well plugged into the Govt of the country. But does cash bring access?

TV3 has defended broadcaster and lawyer Linda Clark following questions about her work for the Labour Party.