Latest from Audrey Young on politics

Audrey Young: Key set to commiserate with Obama

COMMENT: A Clinton presidency would have offered a seamless transition in the United States' policy towards New Zealand.

Two months to get a grip on Trump

Perhaps the best feature of the American electoral system is that it gives us two and a half months to recover our composure before the new president takes office.

Audrey Young: now is time for experience

COMMENT: Key and McCully forged their successful political partnership around dealings the United States and it is about to be harnessed again.

Audrey Young: Key should be seething over Air Force breakdown

COMMENT: Cancelling the Mumbai leg is embarrassing for New Zealand's reputation as a can-do country. Cant even arrive, writes Audrey Young.

Audrey Young: A complex picture behind prison bars

COMMENT: John Key this week recalled the shock he felt when Simon Power privately told him he would be retiring from politics.

Hekia Parata: The verdict

COMMENT: Political Editor Audrey Young gives her report card on the Education Minister, who has announced she will step down at the next election.

Immigration cuts raise Peters' credibility

COMMENT: NZ First leader has been vocal about parents' strain on pension.

Nikki Kaye: the epitome of style and zest

Nikki Kaye has earned a reputation as an individual who is driven in almost everything she does.

Staying in mix Clark's best chance to lead UN

COMMENT: As Key has pointed out publicly, Clark's abilities are widely acknowledged; her trouble is that she doesn't have a champion among the P5.

Audrey Young: Ex-PM off to solid start, says McCully

COMMENT: Murray McCully believes Helen Clark had the best start possible in the first phase of her bid to become the next Secretary General of the United Nations, writes Audrey Young.

Audrey Young: Report nails what's really important

COMMENT: New Zealand has no shortage of tea-stained reports about the failures of Child Youth and Family and its hard-working, well-meaning staff.

Audrey Young: Clark UN candidacy will unify NZ

COMMENT: Few who know Clark would doubt her ability to do the job, and the fact that Clark will be in contention is an incredible achievement, writes Audrey Young.

Audrey Young: Utterly simple vote hijacked for party purposes

If you like it, vote for it. If you like the present flag better, vote for it. Don't let anything else get in the way, writes Audrey Young.

Audrey Young: Brave concession a real boost for NZers

All New Zealanders are equal, but some New Zealanders are more equal than others, especially when they are living in Australia, writes Audrey Young.

Audrey Young: Clark far better UN fit than pretender from Oz

There is little downside for Key in supporting Clark. She is still a highly respected and popular figure in New Zealand, writes Audrey Young.

Audrey Young: Harawira and Co. do heavy lifting on TPP

The good news for the Government is that Hone Harawira and his friends just made its sales job a lot easier, writes Audrey Young.

Audrey Young: Decision time for John and vote on flag

Our political editor Audrey Young gives her take on what will make headlines in 2016.

Top performers across the spectrum

The international fight against Isis has provided bookends to John Key's political year.