Jane Patterson

Following his meeting with National this morning, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said "huge progress" was being made, but he refused to go into detail about which policy areas were being…

The first day of formal coalition talks has wrapped up with the New Zealand First leader Winston Peters describing the meetings with National and Labour as 'very constructive'.

Power Play - The principals have met and decision hour draws closer. RNZ's political editor Jane Patterson runs through possible permutations of the next government.

The New Zealand First leader says the situation has changed now the Māori Party has been voted out of Parliament.

Power Play - No-one is willing to call the result of this extraordinary election, RNZ political editor Jane Patterson writes.

The National Party denies exaggerating the impact of Labour's proposed water tax on farmers, despite figures showing just one in six farms would be affected.

Power Play - Labour has been forced into a major shift in approach after ongoing attacks against its tax policy saw it losing grasp on the election, Jane Patterson writes.

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern has come out firing, accusing National of lying and scaremongering over her party's tax plan.

Power Play - A focused and feisty third debate took place as updated polling had Labour slowly pulling away from National, writes Jane Patterson.

Labour's leader has ruled out introducing any tax which would hit either the family home or the land it sits on, saying that's "completely off the table".

Power Play - National is offering more of the same, while attacking Labour's vision-with-values, writes Jane Patterson.

The setting of a child poverty reduction target by the National Party leader - out of the blue - has been met with some surprise, but also plenty of support.

Labour is standing by its fiscal plan, saying the numbers are robust and an attack from the National Party is a cynical attempt to distract voters. Video

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is dismissing polls showing his party losing support as meaningless.

National and Labour are going head-to-head over their spending promises, with each accusing the other of uncosted election campaign lolly scrambles.

Power Play - National's leader has just a month to repair the party's relationship with a furious Winston Peters, after personal information about his superannuation overpayment ended up in the public…

Winston Peters has rejected an assurance from the Prime Minister, who said a leak about the New Zealand First leader's superannuation overpayment did not come from National Party ministers.

The matter of a superannuation overpayment to New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has been dealt with, the Ministry of Social Development says. Audio

The National Party is facing questions about its campaign slogan making an appearance at yesterday's pre-election fiscal update at Treasury.

The Māori Party has called TVNZ's Mike Hosking's comments on the Māori roll "appallingly misinformed" and has lodged a formal complaint.

Both National and Labour have clarified their tax plans after the government books were opened ahead of the election. Audio

Finance Minister Steven Joyce cautions that the higher-than-expected surplus will be followed by softer growth, leaving little room for tax cuts.

Power Play - The government opens the books today, giving political parties an idea of any extra money for election campaign promises, writes Jane Patterson.

Power Play - The wound that threatened to split the Green Party has been cauterised, but the scars will linger, writes Jane Patterson.

Greens co-leader James Shaw won't say whether he believes it is acceptable to lie to a government agency if a child is going hungry, as the party moves to suspend two of its MPs. Video, Audio