Former National Party leader Don Brash will seek the backing of the Act board on Saturday for an attempt to oust the leader of the party.

Labour's Jacinda Ardern and National's Nikki Kaye, on NZ's student loan system.

Two of Parliament's youngest MPs, Labour's Jacinda Ardern and National's Nikki Kaye, begin a weekly blog for nzherald.co.nz today.

Prime Minister John Key said at his post cabinet press conference today that the Government was still committed to closing the wage gap with Australia.

Former broadcaster Maggie Barry is seeking to stand for National in the seat which has been held by retiring Cabinet Minister Wayne Mapp since 1996.

Amid cries of racism and snipes between the Maori Party and its former colleague Hone Harawira, the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill was passed yesterday.

Government permits its MPs to comment after attempt to speed up progress on legislation fails

Legislation that will replace the Foreshore and Seabed Act could become law by the end of the week, and in Parliament today parties opposed to it were preparing to fight it to the last clause.

Act leader accuses middle class of stopping projects which create jobs for less well-off.

Hone Harawira says it was "dumb" and shameful that he forgot to vote on the bill that was the main reason for his break with the Maori Party.