Dirty Dog sunglasses, that infamous punch-up with Trevor Mallard outside the debating chamber...what will we do without Parliament's bad boy?

Tau Henare had the 'X-factor' and will be missed by Parliament, writes NZ Herald political editor Audrey Young.

National MP Tau Henare says his decision to retire from politics was influenced by a low list placing for the general election.

Prime Minister John Key has disputed a suggestion that the issue of absentee foreigners buying houses in New Zealand has always been a bottom line for Winston Peters'.

Internet Party founder Kim Dotcom will address the Mana Party annual conference in Rotorua next weekend.

New Zealand First is doing "far better'' among voters than recent polls would suggest, leader Winston Peters says.

PM John Key knows homeowners in the electorally crucial mortgage belts of Auckland are nervous about rising mortgage rates, writes Bernard Hickey.

A fiercely anti-abortion lobby group is putting pressure on the National Party not to select an experienced doctor whose job has involved authorising and performing abortions.

Prime Minister John Key said the Chinese government had "rolled out the red carpet" for his visit to China.

Hekia Parata is all about being creative. But performance funding isn't thinking outside the square. It's thinking outside geometry, writes Paul Little.

Political youth organisations have stepped up their recruitment drives before the September 20 election - but a PR expert says the handouts being used to lure young voters lack creativity.

The faith modern executives have in the transformational powers of rebranding is remarkable.

It was disappointing to hear David Cunliffe suggesting today's Herald DigiPoll survey putting Labour at 29.5 per cent is off the mark, writes Audrey Young.

David Cunliffe says National's support will corrode over perceptions of crony capitalism - but admits there's more work for Labour to do after today's abysmal poll result.

Labour's support has sunk nearly six points and it is polling only 29.5 per cent in the Herald-DigiPoll survey.

Opponents see Key as using the flag to surreptitiously tap into the rich veins of patriotism and national identity that lurk in voters' subconscious, writes John Armstrong.

In setting September 20 as the date for the election, the PM has just managed to avoid looking like he is using his position to questionable advantage, writes John Armstrong.

National's election-year overhaul of MPs and contenders continued over the weekend with the selection of Wayne Walford to contest the battleground Napier seat.

Labour MP Grant Robertson says Judith Collins' claim that she dropped in to Oravida in Shanghai for a casual cup of tea does not ring true.

Dr Shane Reti will be the National Party's candidate in the safe Whangarei electorate at this year's general election.

Editorial: Judith Collins was naive if she believed the actions and comments of a Cabinet minister would not be used by the company to promote its products.

Tony Ryall is and has always been the archetypal, solid-to-the-core National Party MP who believes that loyalty to one's party is paramount, writes John Armstrong.

National and the Greens have been major movers in the latest One News Colmar Brunton poll, with National up six points to 51 per cent and the Greens down by five to 8 per cent.

Prime Minister John Key says he is committed to staying for the full three-year term if he remains as prime minister after the general election this year.

Mr Key says it's a 'bit sad' but agitators do finally leave and everyone enjoys a `family day'.

Claire Robinson asks; "Why bad policy making? Because neither Cabinet nor the general public are capable of making the best decision for NZ on the design of the flag of the future."