If the Prime Minister describes your contribution as "outstanding", it might be wise to check on your pension entitlements.

It was the tale of two King Johns; it was a tale of political timing, the first example being exquisite, the second more than telling.

Key had little choice but to put some distance between himself and Abbott's handling of the asylum-seeker payment row, writes John Armstrong.

Social impact bonds bear little resemblance to the kind of debt instruments you find in the finance market, writes John Armstrong.

Three ministers is not enough, writes Toby Manhire. "To have a hope of slaying the many heads of the housing crisis hydra, there may need to be even more new ministers appointed."

Just over two years ago, Housing Minister Nick Smith announced that "this year" the Government was developing a housing warrant of fitness, writes Brian Rudman.

Auckland councillors have agreed to lessons to improve their governance skills - a more urgent need is for them to learn how to be better politicians, writes Brian Rudman.

The most vulnerable are likely to suffer with the introduction of 'social bonds' for the private sector, writes Dita De Boni.

Until this week there was relative harmony in the corridor where doors are now being closed at a $30,000 cost to taxpayers, writes Claire Trevett.

The demise of the Alliance should give the Green Party pause for thought, writes John Armstrong.

Nobody likes a nark but there was great entertainment value in Act leader David Seymour dobbing in National MP Maurice Williamson for an apparent waka jumping plot.

Keeping silent about axing the $1000 kickstart payment for new KiwiSaver members, isn't a broken promise, strictly speaking, writes Audrey Young.

By releasing spoilers in advance, Finance Minister Bill English's motto when it comes to Budgets is "boring", writes Claire Trevett.

For reasons long forgotten and now covered by the essentially meaningless blanket explanation of "tradition", Budgets are always delivered on a Thursday afternoon.

Thursday's Budget will be judged just as much by what is missing from the document as by what it actually contains.

Last Thursday we saw a tale of two biotech companies. If you need evidence investing in medical research stocks is a lottery, this is the story for you, writes Christopher Niesche.

As Prince Harry's travels around New Zealand continue, it has become clear this is his Redemption Tour - his job application, so to speak, writes Claire Trevett.

Andrew Little has tarnished his own reputation for fair play by trying to expose the name of the Cabinet minister whose brother faces child indecency charges, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

If Key wants to make life a lot easier, he should immediately seek leave to make a personal explanation when Parliament sits, writes John Armstrong.

I have watched Key fairly closely for eight years and how people react to him, writes Claire Trevett. In 2011, I noted that Key touched almost everyone he met - a casual thing aimed at reinforcing the connection.

But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? Is it the dawn of a new Rodney Hide, Perkbuster Extraordinaire?

The two Budget-related announcements risked giving every impression that National is running on empty, reckons John Armstrong.

When it comes to matters of high sensitivity, the annual Speaker's tour is right up there, writes John Armstrong.

Winston Peters' triumph in the Northland byelection signals the most serious challenge he has mounted to National in two decades, writes John Armstrong.

The member of Parliament-elect for Northland, Winston Raymond Peters, returned to the House this week, a Phoenix rising, a man transformed, writes Claire Trevett.

Winston Peters cut a swathe through the wealthier parts of the Northland electorate in Saturday's byelection, securing the most votes in the National bastion of Kerikeri and matching the number cast....

If the likes of the Salvation Army cannot afford to buy cut-price state houses, it seems improbable that any other social services agency is in a position to do so.

Last night's 3News-Reid Research poll has Winston Peters registering a thumping 54 per cent, writes John Armstrong. If replicated on Saturday, the result will be akin to a massacre of National.

The Northland byelection would be a dream for country and western singers, such has been the focus on roads.

Nearly 90 per cent of the 7500 new jobs created in the Northland region last year were full-time jobs, according to the office of Employment Minister Steven Joyce.