Fran O'Sullivan writes that it is time New Zealand authorities were given the ability to issue a permanent ban against errant company directors.

The increasingly erratic and somewhat flaky behaviour of Act and the Maori Party should give the PM some serious cause for worry, writes John Armstrong.

Fran O'Sullivan writes that the Maori Party is doing itself a disservice by acquiescing to National's foreshore 'solution'.

"Always a possibility" is fast becoming the Prime Minister's stock reply when confronted with tricky-to-answer questions, writes John Armstrong.

The Act Party's leadership problems are still festering away.

John Armstrong writes that the backbone displayed by Brownlee and Bennett will please the National traditionalists, but we'll have to watch it bend again in election year.

Fran O'Sullivan writes that till now, Key has operated a rather laissez-faire approach to Cabinet management.

Susan St John, associate professor in the economics department of the University of Auckland Business School and spokeswoman for the Child Poverty Action Group, questions the results claimed for new rules on benefits.

Messages are starting to arrive on my desk from disgruntled entrants in the Super City logo contest.

Gerry Brownlee had to control himself in Parliament yesterday if only to avoid Labour making him even more of a laughing stock than he had already become.

Labour leader Phil Goff and Labour President Andrew Little need to sit down soon with list MP Phil Twyford to talk about the management of his future.