Soper: Do we get value from royal tour?

COMMENT: Looking at happy faces, spending taxpayers' money was last thing on their minds.

Barry Soper: Simon Bridges comes up short

COMMENT: All in all yesterday played out as a National Party soap opera.

Soper: Clare Curran saga reflects poorly on PM's leadership

COMMENT: Clare Curran's demise eerily similar to that of the Labour MP she replaced.

Barry Soper: Why are landlords being picked on?

COMMENT: Most landlords aren't fat cats, so why change rental laws, asks Barry Soper.

Soper: Simon Bridges' rubbish first day as leader

COMMENT: In his first attempt to embarrass Labour, Bridges ended up with egg on his face.

Live: Bridges new Nats leader, Bennett remains deputy

Some MPs are still undecided, so a lot lies on the pitch to caucus.

Soper: Anything can happen in Nats race

COMMENT: Public popularity won't decide who'll step into English's Hush Puppies.

Barry Soper: Why there's a lot to worry about in the National leadership race

Comment: Simon Bridges clearly wanted no distractions as he launched his leadership bid.

Barry Soper: Winston Peters drove a hard bargain

Comment: The NZ First and Greens deals came at a fairly hefty cost to Labour.