The parliamentary review of the 2014 election has just been reported. What treats do our MPs have in store for the 2017 campaign and beyond?
Read More2014 election
Cure for third-termitis? A dose of the polls
A year on from the election and we now see loud and clear what defines the John Key government - a willingness to bend to public opinion and give the people just enough of what they want
Read MoreAnd whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire
The Justice and Electoral Committee will soon be reviewing the 2014 general election. Here's the first of my thoughts on what it might profitably look at.
Read MoreNational's self-serving hypocrisy on election year pamphleteering
Over the weekend an 8-page taxpayer-funded advertisement for the National party arrived in our letterbox (I've tweeted a picture). Page after page laid out in National's party colours and font, bursting with photos of the PM, and of MPs Hekia Parata and Chris Finlayson. Also someone called 'Paul Foster-Bell' is prominently pictured in it, but goodness only knows who he is.
Read MoreLabour's baby gamble & the return of universalism
Labour's opening ploy this election year combines heart and smarts, but the return of univeralism is fraught with political risk
Read MoreKey's coalition list a sign of weakness for National, re-birth for Peters & Dunne
It was a day for two Comeback Kids, as John Key announced who he might dance with on election night and Winston Peters & Peter Dunne returned from the wings to take centre stage
Read MoreHas National fixed the economy yet?
If, like me you've been trying to answer the question - 'Has National fixed the economy yet', I created a web site to analyse the data in detail:
Read MoreThe last post... for 2013, polls update & moments of the year
So what's 2013 been all about and where does it leave us? Here's my take... and Christmas wishes
Read MoreJohn Banks and the lumpy mattress of deceit
Who knows whether John Banks will be found guilty next year, only the courts can decide. But in the court of public opinion, a trial is as bad as a conviction
Read MoreNew boundaries = new strategies for major parties
One new seat added in Auckland. But that single proposed seat has ramifications that will ripple across the city with some surprising winners and losers
Read MoreJohn Key: tips his Conservative hand, reveals a 'many baskets' strategy for next election
Why National could save itself by losing some support, how John Key is strategising for next year, where Colin Craig's Conservatives fit and what it means for the other minor parties...
Read MoreTo Cunliffe the spoils – so don't spoil the chance
David Cunliffe has been given a shot – a better shot than he might have had – so which direction will he take and can he switch out of primary-mode quick enough?
Read MoreHitting the wall -- housing debates & political narratives
On The Vote Metiria Turei of the Greens and National's Sam Lotu-Iiga both slipped up, and in doing so showed where their parties are potentially weak in Election 2014.
Read MoreDavid Shearer's last round. Ding, ding
With three pretenders to see off and an active destabilisation campaign underway, Shearer's hold on the leadership looks precarious. Does he have one big push left in him? And if not, what happens next?
Read MoreNational gets on track - and lands decisive political blow
The buzz is that National is about to back Auckland's CBD rail loop. And before you think the government's changed its roading stripes, let's consider the politics behind this
Read MoreThe art of not predicting politics
Matthew Hooton has done a 180 degree turn on his prediction for the 2014 election. Yet the new prediction seems as risky as the last one
Read MoreAfter David Shearer's speech – is he a necessity or a nice-to-have?
It was the speech to save his leadership. Or condemn it. David Shearer stood before the party faithful and got a rousing reception on Sunday. But was a new vision unveiled?
Read MorePeter Dunne – The Power of One
Look at that, Peter Dunne is interesting again. The man from Ohariu could have a fair bit of sway in the next couple of years
Read MoreSurplus, what surplus? National's core brand at risk
Some have always reckoned National's target of surplus by 2014-15 was "fairyland", but oh no said John Key and Bill English, don't you worry. Now Alan Bollard has joined the naysayers, National has to realise just what's at stake
Read MoreDavid Shearer's fresh start – 1) Keep it real
The election is over, so the work begins. Labour has its new face in David Shearer, but now has a mountain to climb to win 5-10% of National's voters over to its side (and a few back from the Greens). So how does it do that?
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