Why does our political landscape so often resemble open mic night at the local comedy club?
Read MoreAct
Latest polls - conservatism triumphant & the accidental leader?
For all the volatility in the latest round of polls, not much has changed. Indeed, change seems to be the last thing voters want right now
Read MoreTrading Freedoms - Voluntary Unionism or the Right to Silence?
Simon Power needs Act's support to pass the Criminal Procedure (Reform and Modernisation) Bill. Will he tell Act to stuff Heather Roy's Voluntary Student Union Bill where the sun doesn't shine, unless they hold their noses, and support grossly illiberal legislation which does away with the right to silence?
Read MoreThompson's demise a bad omen for his old boys' club
Adieu Alasdair Thompson. But is one man's fall from grace a sign of a larger shift in the business world?
Read MorePeter Dunne gets his claws out and his cunning on
It's that time again, when Peter Dunne goes prowling for enough votes to survive another term. Except this time he's thinking bigger. Could it be 2002 all over again for the Centrist Saviour?
Read MoreIs Brash really the saviour of the right?
Don Brash will get ACT above 10 percent, re-energising the right of New Zealand politics - or so the story goes. Some aren't so sure, including some in National
Read MoreWho was wise this week?
The summer surge of politics continued this week with more big calls being made, especially by National, Labour and the Maori Party. But what do they mean? And where do they lead?
Read MorePoll of Polls: Plus Ça Change
Many polls. Much excitement. Little change.
Read MoreHeather Roy's done it again - why we shouldn't follow her back to the future
Heather Roy reckons our nuclear-free policy is stopping a free-trade deal with the US. Someone needs to tell her that the '80s are over, Reagan isn't president anymore and Iowa doesn't give a toss
Read MoreGovernment stuck in the (foreshore) sand. Again
As ACT and the Maori Party kick sand in each other's face over an amendment that changes nothing, we get a good look at the politics of perception and National's misery in trying to hold its coalition partners together
Read MorePunitive political group-think rules... J'accuse too
The legislative failings exposed by Andrew Geddis this week also reveal a depressing political reality
Read MoreDavid Garrett and ACT: it's about forgiveness, even if you don't love me anymore
Prisoners used to get just the Bible to read in their cells. David Garrett might want to take a look at the parable of the unforgiving servant himself, as he looks for a way out of this week's mess... and what it all means for ACT
Read MoreRoy leaves her garden to sow seeds of trouble, while Hide kicks-off Election 2011
Heather Roy's return to parliament this week was a bit rich – Katherine Rich, that is. By following the former National MP's example, Roy has bought herself some time, but is it borrowed? And will the right-wing parties can together or divide?
Read MoreIs Rodney Hide a Bully?
A short history of the ‘primitive combat' that is practiced internally by the ACT Caucus.
Read MoreNational's putting the central back in centre-right politics
For every tilt to the right, the government has a counter-balancing move to the centre. Whether that's due to mixed-up ideology or the height of political pragmatism, this is a National government a long way from the party of Richardson, Shipley and Brash
Read More'Voluntary' sterilisation – the crime that seems fine about speaking its name
Sterilsation is again being recommended as a solution to bad parenting. It's obscene, stupid and is another stigma attached to struggling parents by those devoid of compassion
Read MoreHide & Harawira: sorry should be the hardest word
Hide's apology is out of kilter with earlier statements and behaviour, while any apology from Harawira would deman both him and us. It's no wonder voters have a low opinion of these crisis-time converts
Read MoreAre we heading for ACC, RIP?
John Key has finally decided to spend some political capital, by moving towards privatisation for ACC. Sad that he isn't spending it on productivity, wages and the things he claims are his top priorities
Read MoreNot too late to avoid a political expenses scandal
We have seen Russel Norman's taxi bill. Now all of his colleagues in parliament need to show us theirs – and tidy up the rules while they are at it
Read MoreMt Albert – the nearest place to Hell
At the best of times, by-elections are never pretty. These are not the best of times, and