Latest from Election 2014

Twitter 2014: Satirists are quite the characters

Parody Twitter accounts seek to emulate our politicians with a mix of brilliant impersonation and nastiness.

'Gotcha' backlash Labour's slim hope

Less than two months out from the general election, some of our big-gun politicians are already beginning to shoot themselves in the foot.

'I'm a half-full kind of guy'

Toby Manhire took Jamie Whyte to a local pub quiz for our candid series on party leaders

Verity Johnson: Political beige brigade uninspiring for young voters

This is the first time I can vote, and I've been looking forward to it abstractly for ages. But now, it's looking about as appetising as the pigeon liver.

John Armstrong: National the only game in town for Peters

You cannot teach an old dog new tricks. Or so they say. Well, just try telling Winston Peters that.

Claire Trevett: Parting shots in the House

MPs have headed off on the campaign trail with one last blast at their rivals.

Dita De Boni: Government by intimidation

Whatever the truth about what Nick Smith said, his utterances lay bare what seems to be a long-term strategy - to get all sorts of organisations to pull their necks in and get with the programme, writes Dita De Boni.

Toby Manhire: Privilege debate guillotined by Act's French farce

In those terms, it is hard to know what to make of Whyte's self-made maelstrom around race and privilege in New Zealand law.

New poll puts National under 50 per cent

Cunliffe: It's just 'Winston being Winston'

Labour leader David Cunliffe said he isn't concerned by Winston Peters' comments that he wouldn't work with the Mana Party.

Taxpayers spend $240k hosting oil execs

Energy Minister Simon Bridges is defending a $240,000 bill for taxpayers to wine and dine 11 oil executives during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Leaders unplugged: Metiria Turei

Ms Turei tells the story over cups of hot chocolate - fortified with Bailey's against a chilly evening.

John Armstrong: Even the enemies are voters

It seemed just a slip of the tongue. Or was it, asks John Armstrong. Nick Smith surely meant to talk of "co-operation", not "collaboration", in Parliament yesterday.

Phil Quin: Inept Labour needs to aim higher

To paraphrase US comedian Lily Tomlin, no matter how dire Labour's political management reveals itself to be, it's impossible to keep up.

Lower drink-drive limit likely to pass

One of the National-led Govt's final acts in Parliament this term will be to lower the legal drink-driving limit, which means motorists will face stricter rules before Christmas.

Act calls for end to race based laws

Act Leader Jamie Whyte called for a taskforce to root out and repeal laws giving special treatment to Maori as race once again loomed as an election issue today.

Harre takes on PM

Internet Party Leader Laila Harré will stand against John Key in his Helensville electorate, "because the Prime Minister has some explaining to do".

Cunliffe denies double standards

Labour leader David Cunliffe has denied he has double standards for refusing to rule out relying on Internet Mana despite deriding National for its coat tailing deals.