Latest fromNZ National Party

New ideas high on agenda for Nats
Senior Government ministers Bill English and Steven Joyce say National Party members will be asked for policy ideas at the party conference in Nelson this weekend to take into next year's election.

Self-belief the winning ingredient
If Labour leader David Shearer wants a tip from a winner, former Prime Minister Helen Clark says her advice is always to "be yourself".

Act eyeing minister's seat
The Act Party wants National supporters to save it from oblivion at next year's election, telling them it needs not just one, but two Parliamentary seats.

Spy bill hits roadblock as Peters lays into Key's changes
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said his concerns about the bill had widened beyond the four he specified in his first reading.

Matt McCarten: Maori Party falter at Key's side
Matt McCarten says John Key must feel like he's in a B-grade horror movie where his prom dates keep coming to gruesome demises.

Fran O'Sullivan: Auckland lobby behind Key's about-turn
Prime Minister John Key's decision to suddenly back Auckland on big infrastructure investments wasn't simply designed to steal a march on his Labour opponents.

Green leader tears into 'smiling' Key
Green Party co-leader Russel Norman has all but shut the door on working with National after the next election.

Ports and bloggers colluded: strategist
A political strategist who has trained National Party MPs says the Ports of Auckland colluded with right wing bloggers to undermine industrial action against the Ports of Auckland.

National stance blamed for mayoralty withdrawal
One of National MP Maurice Williamson's supporters says he dropped his ambition to run as Auckland's mayor partly because the National Party refused to let him stand under the party's banner.

National turns on hard right advisor
Leaked documents written by a political strategist who has trained National MPs set out a vision for taking the party to the right of the political spectrum.

Newest MP takes her place in House
New National MP Claudette Hauiti gives every indication she has had a crash course in how not to be controversial.

Collins ignored process: Labour
The Government is again accused of interfering to appoint a 'mate' to a top public sector job.

Election between centre right and far left - Key
National is facing the "notoriously difficult" task of winning a third term against an Opposition increasingly dragged to the "far left" by the Greens, says Key

New waka jumping law proposed
National Party members are pushing for a new "waka-jumping" law to force rogue list MPs out of Parliament.

Govt sends message to developers
Property developers who "sit and wait" for land values to increase have been sent a clear signal that the Government will act to bring more housing into the market.

John Armstrong: National gives mixed signals with housing
John Armstrong writes: "One of the reasons why Governments slowly decay and die is that the longer they are in office the more prone they become to ugly pragmatism and compromise of principle."

Key tips early surplus
John Key says it is possible the Government could get close to a surplus in the coming financial year - one year earlier than officially predicted in yesterday's Budget.

John Armstrong: Budget tailored to keep the wavering voters on board
John Key is under absolutely no illusions about the difficulty he faces in securing a third victory at next year's election, writes John Armstrong.

Editorial: Collins fails electoral review test
Editorial: It was the Government's idea to put MMP to a referendum at the last election and it was the Government's idea to load the odds in favour of retention.

Aaron Gilmore: 'I'm not surrendering'
Aaron Gilmore has given a personal statement to Parliament, and said the media scrutiny he has been placed under prevented him from functioning properly as an MP.

'Popcorn and coke' ready for speech
Labour Party leader David Shearer says the party will bring their "popcorn and coke'' to National MP Aaron Gilmore's hugely anticipated valedictory speech later today.

Bob Jones: Respect waiters, even if you're ugly
Feel some pity for hitherto obscure MP Aaron Gilmore whose hopes and dreams lie in ashes, albeit through self-immolation, writes Sir Bob Jones.