Winston Peters' announcement that he will enter a coalition with Labour gives the 2017 election its final meaning. But it sounds like it was a very, very close run thing.
Read MoreWinston Peters
This is it - a government - soon - maybe
Maybe there will be a government this week. Maybe not. To fill the vacuum speculation is the only alternative.
Read MoreWhile we wait, a few lessons from the caretaker days
New Zealand will not fall apart while we wait for a government to be negotiated. But that does not mean we have to just accept a lack of respect for transparency and shouldn't expect better
Read MoreRelax - Winston Peters, Negotiations and getting the best from MMP
It has been 21 years since the first Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) election. But we do not seem to be learning how to get the best from the system. We are treating it like First-Past-the-Post (FPP). It is time to relax and play to strengths of MMP.
Read MoreThis much we know: It's a different kind of drag race
Amidst a pletohora of speculation around the government coalition talks, this weekend's final results made one thing very clear and Winston Peters knows it
Read MoreThe numbers are in, let the politics begin
The official election results finally have been announced. They tell us what we thought they would - so now what will they mean?
Read MoreA worry-wort's guide to Election 17 - the Majors
While we wait for the specials to be counted and negotiations to begin, we can review what happened in Election 2017. A determinedly glass half-empty view of the results shows the big two parties have plenty to fret about
Read MoreExclusive: Winston weighs up which way to go
Pundit can reveal an exclusive report from inside Winston's head... We see what he's actually thinking
Read MoreHow governments form under MMP ...
AUT's Julienne Molineaux has written a must-read guide to post-election processes ... anyone wanting to know anything about this should go and read it.
Read MoreA new beast of a government, whichever way Winston goes
The vote this election was quite predictable, but the journey of the campaign was not and whichever new government we get, it will be very different from the John Key years
Read MoreBill makes history before heading into the Winston maze
With so much analysis it can be easy to miss the wood for the trees at this point. While there's still nothing certain about our next government, we can look back to look forward and recognise the historic nature of this result
Read MoreWhat lies beneath this election campaign
Just under a month out from Election 17, the former deputy Prime Minister looks at the state of the parties and makes some picks
Read MoreTV debate time: Election 17 gets the boost it needs
One party leader wins the feel-good vibe from the first TV leaders debate, while another actually resets his party's campaign and lays down a new bottom line
Read MoreArdern v English: Is this the time of transformation?
A stark difference has arisen between the two major parties in recent days - one doubling down on old ways and another bursting with new generation vibes. Peter Dunne's resignation reinforces the sense that generational change is coming. But when?
Read MoreA little bit more on Winston's proposed referendums
Winston Peters says his price for government is two binding referendums. If we believe him, which we probably shouldn't, then let's note some more problems with his proposal.
Read MoreThe Greens come out swinging... not just at Winston
Winston Peters won't mind the Greens showing a bit of fight. Rather, Metiria Turei's attack on his "racist" politics is more likely to rattle the cage of another party and send a 'pragmatic' message to voters..
Read MoreMasterstroke, manoeuvre or muddle: Bill English's super punt
Why grasp one of the third rails of politics just six months from an election? Well, three possible reasons come to mind...
Read MoreLet me count the ways; three potential governments in 2017
Come September 24, there are really only three likely scenarios as to who could form a government, and odds-on Winston Peters will face two difficult choices
Read MoreNo, not that one. The other dangerous bit we could inherit from the US election campaign
Recent elections and votes in America, Britain and Australia have been brutal and brittle affairs with plenty of rancour, and some fear the same here this year. But I wonder if they're looking in the wrong direction
Read More2016 in politics: A spinoff from The spinoff
The Spinoff last week asked me to consider the political highs and lows of 2016. So I did that and saw there first package come out over the weekend. So here are my thoughts on all that
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