The last Labour Govt was ousted amid cries of "Nanny State". Five years on, the National-led Govt has also been accused of running people's lives.

Primary and intermediate school teachers are being overworked and some subjects are prioritised at the expense of others, says a study into National Standards.

To understand Paula Bennett's value to the National Party, you just have to see how much Labour cant stand her.

The PM is factoring in the possibility of a visit by Barack Obama to NZ as one of the wild cards he has to consider in setting the date for next year's election.

In the second part of a Herald investigation, we look at the MPs' property rich list. The top ten MPs, what they own and why a Labour MP didn't declare her trusteeship.

A lobby group believes a loophole exposed by the Herald of MPs non-disclosure of properties held in superannuation schemes is 'stinging taxpayers in the pocket'.

The Herald's research into politicians' property holdings for this week's three-part series is the biggest data journalism project in New Zealand.

In any walk of life, ongoing renewal is critical. Any sports team, business or political party, however successful, risks being viewed as stale if it ignores this necessity for too long.

Spring has sprung and with it a focus on renewal among political parties, writes Claire Trevett. National MPs are obediently acting like deciduous trees.

Has the political landscape really changed during the time shift from BC (Before Cunliffe) to AD (After David)?

Coalition mathematics is not far from the Prime Minister's mind these days.

Almost 100,000 Kiwis have had personal details accidentally released under National, says Labour leader.

Cabinet Minister and Napier MP Chris Tremain has confirmed that he will stand down from Parliament next year.

A winter of discontent in heartland National Party territory has nothing to do with the GCSB bill, as John Key likes to point out

Conference 2013 was meant to be the conference of good ideas. Political editor Audrey Young looks at whether it delivered.

Bill English's speech provided a vital clue as to how National will fight next year's election. It will go relentlessly on the offensive across all fronts, writes John Armstrong.

If Labour leader David Shearer wants a tip from a winner, former Prime Minister Helen Clark says her advice is always to "be yourself".

The Act Party wants National supporters to save it from oblivion at next year's election, telling them it needs not just one, but two Parliamentary seats.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said his concerns about the bill had widened beyond the four he specified in his first reading.

Matt McCarten says John Key must feel like he's in a B-grade horror movie where his prom dates keep coming to gruesome demises.

Prime Minister John Key's decision to suddenly back Auckland on big infrastructure investments wasn't simply designed to steal a march on his Labour opponents.

I guess Maggie Barry's thoughts have turned to composing her bucket list, writes Brian Rudman. And leaving messages on her boss' phone, pleading for another u-turn.

It's been said you were a Labour Party supporter and campaigned for them. So why the switch?

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman has all but shut the door on working with National after the next election.

A political strategist who has trained National Party MPs says the Ports of Auckland colluded with right wing bloggers to undermine industrial action against the Ports of Auckland.

One of National MP Maurice Williamson's supporters says he dropped his ambition to run as Auckland's mayor partly because the National Party refused to let him stand under the party's banner.