Given the already surreal shemozzle the likelihood of more embarrassments emerging should have had National feeling like a lamb to the slaughter.

The Government says a new plan to lure migrants away from Auckland will boost regional economies, but admits it will do little to ease Auckland's housing pressures.

National's latest bit of tinkering with its immigration policy will not solve the Auckland housing crisis. It will barely touch it.

If this weekend's National Party conference runs true to recent form it will be so stage-managed that any vitality or vibrancy will have been sucked out of the affair before it has even begun.

The NZ-China free trade agreement doesn't stop new restrictions on house sales to overseas buyers, but National's subsequent deals try to, writes David Parker.

"Spectacularly unsuccessful" is John Key's verdict when asked about following Australia's foreign buyers policy. They are not really telling the whole story, says John Armstrong.

Prime Minister John Key has opened the door to possible restrictions on foreign buyers if information gained shows high numbers of foreigners are buying in New Zealand.

For all intents and purposes National was done like a dog's dinner by Labour this week, writes John Armstrong.

Unfair employment practices including zero-hours contracts are not going to be solved by National's latest measures, politicians and a union representative say.

It did not take long. Just three days, if that, for the politicians to get voluntary euthanasia well and truly off the political agenda, writes John Armstrong.

Judith Collins has told a women's magazine she wouldn't have got through last year's Oravida and Dirty Politics scandals if it wasn't for her husband.

Judith Collins tonight released emails that show a $30,000 door that will separate Labour MPs from National MPs sharing a floor in Parliament House was opposed by the National Party.

Labour continued to bay for Murray McCully’s blood in Parliament yesterday over the Saudi farm saga.

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.

Not only will the benefit boost do little to alleviate poverty, but it is accompanied by cuts to other associated benefits and payments, writes Dita De Boni

It is too early in Andrew Little's career as a party leader to be ruling out realistic answers to problems he would face if he leads Labour to power.

Prime Minister John Key says axing the $1000 kickstart grant to new KiwiSaver members in the Budget "will not make a blind bit of difference to the number of people who join".

Russia had a shirtless President, Australia had Tony Abbott in budgie smugglers, and now Prime Minister has added to the catalogue with a shirtless snap.

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

Prime Minister John Key today rejected claims by Labour leader Andrew Little that National had been dishonest with voters last election.

Act leader David Seymour has criticised the Government for not supporting a version of the Regulatory Standards Bill.

Next week's Budget will outline plans by the Government to develop its own land holdings in Auckland in a bid to boost supply.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has taken Shane Jones, David Shearer and Winston Peters with him for his trip to the Cook Islands, where he is holding talks.

Andrew Little says John Key should have acted sooner to address any potential conflicts of interest involving a Minister whose brother faces child indecency charges.

Prime Minister John Key has rejected calls by Labour to stand down a minister whose brother is facing indecency charges.

The petition comes as the Salvation Army said it fed 9.5 per cent more people last year in its Midland region than it did in the year before.

Prime Minister John Key said the minister in question had advised Mr Key's office about the situation as soon as the minister knew about it.

Prime Minister John Key has announced $3 million more funding for a cycleway in Northland on his first visit to the region since National lost the Northland byelection

National criticised the Labour Party for "cronyism" when it was in Opposition, but a check through appointments shows National heading the same way.