A wealthy Auckland businessman, whose links to the National Party led to a minister's resignation, also made a secret $15,000 donation to Labour.

There are three rules of New Zealand politics. Never criticise farmers. Never ask why cannabis is illegal and never, ever mention abortion.

New Zealand could soon have its first female Muslim politician in Parliament.

With 100 days to go until election day on September 20, the political parties - no doubt fibbing through clenched teeth - profess to be ready. Or close enough.

David Cunliffe may well be proud that red is the colour of socialism, writes Claire Trevett, but he can't afford a re-enactment of Thrones' Red Wedding.

Editorial: David Cunliffe's announcement represented Labour finally dipping a more positive toe into education policy.

Labour is promising to abolish within 100 days of taking office the MMP coat-tail rule that enables a minor party electorate MP to bring party list mates into Parliament, writes Brian Rudman.

Editorial: Labour MP Andrew Little is right, an inquiry is needed into the police decision not to prosecute John Banks.

The rich and powerful are expert at using their dominance of the media to raise the salience in the popular mind of values that suit their interests, writes Bryan Gould.

Taxpayer funding for National and Labour's election campaign broadcast advertising has been cut for this year's election but the Greens and NZ First will enjoy a substantial boost.

It is political convention that changing electoral law is done by consensus because it is fundamental to the country's democracy, writes John Armstrong.

Labour leader David Cunliffe confirmed he would still be open to a post-election deal with Internet Mana despite making the abolition of "coat-tailing" under MMP .

Labour leader David Cunliffe now says his party would make it a priority to get rid of ''coat-tailing" under MMP if it leads the Government after the September election.

Some Labour Party cheerleaders have convinced themselves they can capture the Treasury benches without winning an election. They're wrong.

Labour is looking "very closely" at changing the rules for foreign investors who can get residency in New Zealand by paying $10 million.

The David Cunliffe experiment has failed. Eight months into his leadership Labour is polling below what it was under Phil Goff and David Shearer.

The Maori Party will move to change it's vote on a Labour MP's paid parental leave bill today after a blunder last night saw its votes counted incorrectly.

Odd political bedfellows Hone Harawira and Kim Dotcom sealed the deal between their Mana and Internet parties.

David Cunliffe has tried just about everything to put a dent in the Government's poll ratings without success, writes Brian Rudman. He's now dipping into Winston Peters' murky bag of trick

Labour leader David Cunliffe wants to cut the level of immigration but won't say by how much.

Labour leader David Cunliffe has defended helping a Chicago-based friend buy a house in Omaha, despite saying overseas investors were hurting the housing market.

The left know that there's increasing concern in NZ society about economic inequality, in particular child poverty, unemployment, and the rising cost of living, writes Bryce Edwards.

John Key's National Government is enjoying a Budget lift higher in two new polls, and appears to have moved on from the conflict-of-interest scandals.

The Labour Party has re-opened nominations for the Auckland-based Maori electorate of Tamaki Makaurau following a decision to block the nomination of former TVNZ Maori news manager and broadcaster Shane Taurima.

It must surely be tempting fate to mention it, but there are definite signs that Labour has finally emerged from its long bleak winter, writes John Armstrong.

It's emerged former minister Maurice Williamson contacted police about a fraud case, before his intervention in another case that ultimately led to his resignation.