"How do you assess the impact of a picture of a smiling Goff when the accompanying story is about Labour keeping his face off its campaign hoardings?" writes John Armstrong.

A good slogan can go a long way, as Prime Minister John Key was keen to point out this week, writes Claire Trevett.

Hobbit fever has hit NZ, but there are more sceptical voices when it comes to the value of luring major studios to New Zealand, writes Bryce Edwards.

The Labour Party limps on after a spectacular and damaging period of infighting over its leadership, writes Bryce Edwards.

Cunliffe supporters are now questioning what he did wrong, given there was no overt leadership challenge, writes Claire Trevett.

Bloodletting seems assured within the Labour Party, following a rather extraordinary annual conference, writes Bryce Edwards.

The United States was admitted to the East Asia Summit only last year, six years after the first summit.

Despite Key's claims that he was not bothered about the happenings in Labour, he appeared to be paying a great deal of attention indeed, writes Claire Trevett.

Although the Pike River mining tragedy was initially deemed to be non-political by many, it has been politicised with the reports release, writes Bryce Edwards.

David Shearer will soon be under the spotlight at Labour's conference, but outgoing TV3 political editor Duncan Garner is not shy about his verdict on his leadership.

Housing is a political minefield, affecting every single voter one way or another., writes Bryce Edwards. "It's an industry, investment, business, nest egg, bureaucracy and, ultimately, a roof over our heads."

The promise to deal with alcopops has been reduced to a provision that will allow a future government to act on them at some unspecified time, writes Claire Trevett.

There have been growing gripes that Lockwood Smith has been going too far in seeming to want to also be Parliament's coach and commentator, writes John Armstrong.

There will undoubtedly be some gardening leave on offer soon at the Ministry of Social Development, writes political commentator Bryce Edwards.

Labour could learn a lot from the chocolate wars - that bitter contest that played out on the bloody battlefields of the supermarket shelves in 2009, writes Claire Trevett.

Is the National Government being swayed by the increasing debate and concern about poverty and inequality? Bryce Edwards looks at the issue in today's political round-up.

The GCSB and Police are far from off the hook, writes Bryce Edwards. "The Police, in particular are facing the heat over the question of whether they lied in court."