The very health and safety changes which the Pike River disaster prompted make re-entering the mine difficult, Prime Minister Bill English says.

New Prime Minister Bill English will unveil his new Cabinet on Sunday.

If Bill English was as superstitious as his predecessor, he would be a bit nervous that when he is asked about Andrew Little an earthquake strikes.

COMMENT: The Labour Party was quietly thrilled after getting over the shock of John Key's resignation as PM and his endorsement of Bill English.

Not many new Prime Ministers kick off their tenure with a U-turn and by quoting poetry. But Bill English did.

Bill English delivered a few surprises in his first media appearance, including poetry, a u-turn on gay marriage and a nod to the trade unions.

New National Party leader Bill English has revealed he would vote in favour of same-sex marriage if another vote was held.

Bill English said he looked forward to leading the country in a statement to the press today.

New Zealand is in good hands with Bill English elected by the National Party as the 39th Prime Minister, John Key says.

Incoming PM Bill English and his deputy Paula Bennett will meet in Wellington today to start hammering out the team they want to take into 2017 election.

Bronagh Key made her first public appearance yesterday since her husband's shock resignation as Prime Minister.

COMMENT: The most common question in politics is, "Why not me?" That's the question National MPs have spent the week asking.

A week has never seemed such a long time in politics.

COMMENT: Much has been made of English and Bennett's polarities - man and woman, Aucklander and South Islander, quiet and loud, solo mum and family man.

Simon Bridges has withdrawn from the contest to be National's deputy leader today - handing it to Paula Bennett.

COMMENT: As we farewell a gifted PM we are about to get a more combative one. John Key's politics have been emollient, Bill English is abrasive.

The advantage Bill English has when he forms his new Government next week is that he won't be burdened by high expectations.

Reputation studiously rebuilt after a political mauling 14 years ago, the new PM now has chance to right the record, writes Claire Trevett.

Incoming Prime Minister Bill English has confirmed that Wayne Eagleson will remain in the influential position of the prime minister's chief of staff.

COMMENT: For a decade National didn't have to think about a leader, now they will be scrambling to make sense of it all, writes Barry Soper.

COMMENT: The stable predictable thing is English for PM, Bennett the deputy and Joyce for finance. Not my ideal, but safe. But is it enough for election year?

COMMENT: Alas, poor John, an ominous rumbling noise started in the bowels of the party's massive backbench rump. It could not be ignored.

COMMENT: 'The personal is political": a slogan that John Key, our outgoing Prime Minister, fudged vigorously throughout his tenure.

Judith Collins has laid out her policy agenda if she is elected Prime Minister.

The National Party is inviting Kiwis to thank John Key for his 10 years leading the party and eight years' service as Prime Minister.

Fevered lobbying to become the next PM has begun in the National caucus as Bill English, Judith Collins and Jonathan Coleman vie for position.

National Party politics - and, by extension, New Zealand politics - have suddenly become very uncertain.

The contest for New Zealand's next PM is shaping up as a race between an veteran politician, a lower-profile minister, and a wild card.

COMMENT: I'm not gonna lie. I'm glad to see the back end of him. Clothed, of course, writes Rachel Stewart.

COMMENT: National MPs should think twice before automatically anointing as prime minister a member of Key's kitchen cabinet, Fran O'Sullivan writes.