Latest from NZ National Party

Claire Trevett: Conservation changes a hard sell for National

Claire Trevett says when it comes to delivering bad news about the fauna and flora of NZ, the same advice applies as to tramping near fairy tern nesting sites: tread with meticulous care.

John Armstrong: Fired-up Shearer easy target for Key

Someone should tell David Shearer that getting all indignant about someone else's blunder was not the best of tactics to employ in Parliament, writes John Armstrong.

Solid Energy warnings ignored

Were senior Cabinet ministers asleep at the wheel? Did they fail to step in soon enough when problems at Solid Energy were apparent? John Armstrong investigates.

John Armstrong: How brand National survives the follies

Why has National remained so incredibly popular for so long despite suffering continuing calamities, embarrassments and unwanted distractions, asks John Armstrong.

Key in dark over lucky dip prize

John Key was touted as a dinner companion in a lucky dip contest fronted by a National Party minister - but never knew he was the prize used to lure entrants.

Dame Anne Salmond: Time to defend democratic rights

Since the 1980s, too, successive Governments have become increasingly high-handed, and ideologically driven, writes Anne Salmond.

John Armstrong: Hopefully Jones has learned his lesson

Nine months in the political wilderness awaiting Lyn Provost's painstaking report may well have done the trick, writes John Armstrong.

John Armstrong: Water rights remain political hot potato

Although it takes some swallowing, the Prime Minister's insistence that there was no plan B had the Supreme Court blocked the part-sale of Mighty River Power has to be taken at face value.

Matt McCarten: Real meat ignored for same old Waitangi fare

As you'll know by breathless media reports, the old battle-axe Titewhai Harawira took the country to the brink of disaster just as the Prime Minister and other dignitaries were about to arrive at the lower Waitangi marae.

Collins picked husband's friend

The lawyer hand-picked by Minister of Justice Judith Collins for a top state service job is an old friend of her husband, says a private investigator who used to work for both men.

John Armstrong: Warning flashes from a housing nightmare

So coos the sugar-encrusted, but hollow-sounding real estate-speak intent on seducing would-be home buyers and hard-headed investors into succumbing to the charms of life at Hobsonville Pt.

'You've just got to make the calls'

In between overseas trips, Murray McCully talks to political editor Audrey Young about his hectic year ahead.

Spectre of Smith looms over chair

Carter takes over as Speaker of the House despite Labour move to install Mallard

Chief whip role misunderstood

Editorial: Calls to focus on exchange rate should be ignored

Times are very tough in manufacturing. The global recession has merely contributed an additional woe to a sector whose share of economic activity has been declining for more than two decades.

Case highlights border security loophole

Police allege an illegal immigrant living here on a false Australian passport was also able to obtain three other false passports - including two from New Zealand.