Prime Minister John Key is on to a winner with his big plans to financially reward excellent teachers and principals, writes Audrey Young.

The National Government’s economic focus will be on paying down debt as Crown finance’s improve, Prime Minister John Key said this morning.

Read PM John Key's full state of the nation-style speech to the West Auckland Business Club.

The frenetic activity is all about National and Labour grappling with one another for the early election-year political initiative and - hopefully - retaining it, writes John Armstrong.

'A few things have changed.' National could work with Winston Peters' NZ First after this year's election, PM John Key has said - reversing his stance.

National's decision to potentially work with Winston Peters and New Zealand First after the next election is not without risk, writes Audrey Young.

Jami-Lee Ross, National MP for Botany, talks to Audrey Young.

Colin Craig says repealing the anti-smacking law will be a condition of his support for a National-led Government, after confirming he smacked his own child.

Conservative Party leader Colin Craig says he doesn't expect any backlash from his admission this morning that he still smacks his own child.

Irreverent Cabinet Minister Paula Bennett has produced her own pink wine label on a chardonnay this Christmas called "Sip It Sweetie".

National's sitting MP in Kaikoura, Colin King, was ousted by his own party last night after a challenge from a local farmer at a selection meeting.

To suddenly talk about tax cuts would send a very mixed message about the need for continued restraint in government spending, writes John Armstrong.

National list MP Katrina Shanks will resign from Parliament in the New Year to work as chief executive of the Funeral Directors' Association.

'They just protest because that's all they've got to do all day.' PM John Key isn't fazed by protesters who tried to ruin the National Party Xmas party last night.

New Zealand educational achievement has dropped significantly in the core subjects of science, maths and reading, according to a OECD report.

Editorial: Regulation appeals to governments because it is the easiest response to a problem. But each affects people's freedom in some way.

From the earliest results, it was obvious Labour was going to win - and win big. It was slaughter, pure and simple, writes John Armstrong.

The last Labour Govt was ousted amid cries of "Nanny State". Five years on, the National-led Govt has also been accused of running people's lives.

The PM is factoring in the possibility of a visit by Barack Obama to NZ as one of the wild cards he has to consider in setting the date for next year's election.

In the second part of a Herald investigation, we look at the MPs' property rich list. The top ten MPs, what they own and why a Labour MP didn't declare her trusteeship.

A lobby group believes a loophole exposed by the Herald of MPs non-disclosure of properties held in superannuation schemes is 'stinging taxpayers in the pocket'.

The Herald's research into politicians' property holdings for this week's three-part series is the biggest data journalism project in New Zealand.

In any walk of life, ongoing renewal is critical. Any sports team, business or political party, however successful, risks being viewed as stale if it ignores this necessity for too long.

Spring has sprung and with it a focus on renewal among political parties, writes Claire Trevett. National MPs are obediently acting like deciduous trees.

John Key has admitted he had to be persuaded to back off his bid to press the Reserve Bank into exempting first-home buyers from the banks' new loan rules.

Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Bill English is to give up his Clutha-Southland seat at the next election and stand as a list candidate.

Coalition mathematics is not far from the Prime Minister's mind these days.

Has the political landscape really changed during the time shift from BC (Before Cunliffe) to AD (After David)?

Almost 100,000 Kiwis have had personal details accidentally released under National, says Labour leader.