New Zealand First is doing "far better'' among voters than recent polls would suggest, leader Winston Peters says.

PM John Key knows homeowners in the electorally crucial mortgage belts of Auckland are nervous about rising mortgage rates, writes Bernard Hickey.

A fiercely anti-abortion lobby group is putting pressure on the National Party not to select an experienced doctor whose job has involved authorising and performing abortions.

National has fallen two points to 43 per cent in the latest Roy Morgan poll.

Hone Harawira issued an ultimatum to Kim Dotcom and the Internet Party yesterday: if Dotcom does any sort of deal with Peter Dunne, Harawira is out, writes Audrey Young.

Prime Minister John Key said the Chinese government had "rolled out the red carpet" for his visit to China.

Hekia Parata is all about being creative. But performance funding isn't thinking outside the square. It's thinking outside geometry, writes Paul Little.

Political youth organisations have stepped up their recruitment drives before the September 20 election - but a PR expert says the handouts being used to lure young voters lack creativity.

David Cunliffe says National's support will corrode over perceptions of crony capitalism - but admits there's more work for Labour to do after today's abysmal poll result.

Labour's support has sunk nearly six points and it is polling only 29.5 per cent in the Herald-DigiPoll survey.

Opponents see Key as using the flag to surreptitiously tap into the rich veins of patriotism and national identity that lurk in voters' subconscious, writes John Armstrong.

In setting September 20 as the date for the election, the PM has just managed to avoid looking like he is using his position to questionable advantage, writes John Armstrong.

My colonoscopy involved sedation providing a 15-20 minute sleep, so light I woke up during it and watched for a time before dozing off again, writes Bob Jones.

A string of National Party high-flyers have been entertained by the milk exporter at the centre of a conflict of interest row involving Justice Minister Judith Collins

National's election-year overhaul of MPs and contenders continued over the weekend with the selection of Wayne Walford to contest the battleground Napier seat.

Labour MP Grant Robertson says Judith Collins' claim that she dropped in to Oravida in Shanghai for a casual cup of tea does not ring true.

Dr Shane Reti will be the National Party's candidate in the safe Whangarei electorate at this year's general election.

National and the Greens have been major movers in the latest One News Colmar Brunton poll, with National up six points to 51 per cent and the Greens down by five to 8 per cent.

Prime Minister John Key says he is committed to staying for the full three-year term if he remains as prime minister after the general election this year.

Mr Key says it's a 'bit sad' but agitators do finally leave and everyone enjoys a `family day'.

Claire Robinson asks; "Why bad policy making? Because neither Cabinet nor the general public are capable of making the best decision for NZ on the design of the flag of the future."

National will leave decisions about endorsement of other parties such as Act and the Conservatives possibly as late as the election campaign.

Young Epsom candidate says party bent on putting internal wrangling in past.

New Zealand First would hold the balance of power if the results of the first major political poll of the year were translated to an election result.

In what is quickly becoming a year-long de facto election campaign, one can guarantee National will drum in the message that Cunliffe is a politician who cannot be trusted, writes John Armstrong.

Justice Minister Judith Collins says Greens co-leader Metiria Turei is a "sanctimonious hypocrite" for championing the poor while dressing in expensive designer clothes.