John Key's programme in Hanoi yesterday reflects the complexity of the country. In the morning it was a visit to the Vin empire of Vietnam's first and only billionaire, Pham Nhat Vuong, and in the afternoon he was off to meet the communists.
COMMENT: John Key is adept at staying closely in touch with public opinion. It is one of his great political strengths - and weaknesses, writes Bryan Gould.
If apologies were commodities the Government surplus would be assured in perpetuity given the extent to which demand is outstripping supply, writes Claire Trevett.
If the uprising has made it worse for the rioters, it has also embarrassed Australia in the week it appeared before the United Nations Human Rights Council for a performance review, writes Brian Rudman.
It must be tempting for the royal family to simply give up on New Zealand and Australia.
The Prime Minister doesn't care if we're laughing at him or with him as long as we're laughing and he's in the frame, writes Claire Trevett. "The PM does at least give back in entertainment value what he costs in coin.
The government accounts have returned to surplus after seven years of deficits.
It may be a stretch to say Labour leader Andrew Little will be to blame if the All Blacks lose the semifinal against South Africa this weekend.
What does Labour think about the TPP? No one seems to know. The party's hoping to appease critics and opponents of the deal, but mixed messages are drawing criticism.
Poor old Bill English's delight in his first-born surplus was short-lived. For the moment it was announced the beggars started lining up with caps in hand, writes Claire Trevett.
The Finance Minister's long sought Holy Grail (a surplus in 2014/15) was so slim even he had to poke some fun at himself for the size of it.
Claire Trevett reflects on her whirlwind trip to Taji with Prime Minister John Key.
It was hard for some to see the justification in Key's decision to deploy the troops in the first place, writes Cliare Trevett. It is harder still to see how Key will justify a decision to cut and run.
Australia's new policy of deporting law-breaking NZ-born residents, as well as keeping them in detention centres, has met with strong opposition in NZ, writes Bryce Edwards.
After the completion of exhaustive TPP talks in Atlanta, Trade Minister Tim Groser sounded anything but elated as he talked down the phone at 3 am.
Sometimes it takes someone a little removed from the fray to put the right perspective on the TPP issue.
A year on from Labour's worst electoral defeat, Bryce Edwards asks: Are the behind-the-scenes changes amounting to enough to turn things around?
The real aim of Key's visit is the Trans Pacific Partnership, writes Claire Trevett. Talks are in the make-or-break stage in Atlanta and whether world peace emerges from the General Assembly or not,
If Red Peak continues its extraordinary rise, then we might end up looking back on the last few weeks in the flag change process as a remarkable chapter.
The political left and right allege Key's government has become affected by third-termitis, complaining of an administration that is tired, writes Bryce Edwards.
In an attempt to look as if they were both trying to be constructive, the olive branches were ordered, writes Claire Trevett. Then they started slapping each other about the chops with them.
Energy trust would be more loveable if its annual payout wasn't used to benefit individuals ... or to promote re-election of trustees, writes Brian Rudman.
Jacinda Ardern's swift rise in popularity is provoking debate about the political direction of the Labour Party, it's leadership, and sexism in politics.
All we have agreed on in this search for a unifying piece of fabric is that those it is meant to unify can agree on nothing, writes Claire Trevett.
We are living in an age of spin, writes Peter Lyons. The Roman leaders gave their people bread and circuses. Sadly we no longer get the bread.
Cynical safety move means minister must quit if 'safe farm' death rate doesn't fall, writes Audrey Young.
The country is not convinced a deal would have plenty of upside, writes Fran O'Sullivan.
Gentlemanly political veteran was privy to momentous decisions which shaped this country, writes John Roughan.
If you look hard enough, a kind of not strictly illegal, but let's say, fudging, of due process appears, writes Dita De Boni.
Unconvincing explanations for settling live sheep export grievance should not hurt New Zealand's clean reputation, writes John Roughan.
He might prefer whisky and cigarettes to Churchill's port and cigars, but Winston Peters appears as passionate and energised as ever, writes John Armstrong.
Amy Adams fits in with the "compassionate conservatism" tag Prime Minister John Key has used to describe his Administration, writes Claire Trevett.
Seventy years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, New Zealand must take the lead on banning lethal weapons, writes Dita De Boni.