Jane Patterson

The parliamentary year has ended not with a string of tinsel, but with a string of resignations.

Power Play - Bill English has made a start setting himself apart from his predecessor, says Jane Patterson.

Power Play - Paula Bennett not only has a big laugh and raucous personality, but a back story to rival John Key's, says Jane Patterson.

Power Play - Bill English is known to celebrate Budget Day with a meat pie, and deserves a pastry treat today, writes Jane Patterson

Power Play - Bill English appears to be the clear front-runner in the race for National's leadership, says Jane Patterson.

Whanganui MP Chester Borrows has publicly thrown his support behind Deputy Prime Minister Bill English in his bid to become National Party leader.

The Auckland Central MP, who is receiving treatment for breast cancer, intends to return to full duties early next year.

Power Play - Prime Minister John Key's resignation throws next year's election wide open, regardless of who takes over now, writes Jane Patterson.

Very few warrants sought by intelligence agencies are rejected but some do have to be tweaked, the man who signs off on them says.

Power Play - After handling the devastating Christchurch earthquakes, the Kaikoura shake would have felt like deja-vu to the PM and his senior ministers, writes Jane Patterson.

The US and Malaysia have offered helicopters to help get 140 "priority" people out of Kaikoura.

New Zealand will use the visit of the US Secretary of State this weekend to keep pushing for support for a resolution on Syria.

Will NZ's defence relationship with the US change much under Donald Trump? Not likely, says Prime Minister John Key.

Power Play - Jaws and currencies dropped as Trump won the vote, so what will be the effects on New Zealand and our relationship with the US, asks Jane Patterson.

Power Play - Labour's leader delivered strong words at the party's annual conference, but there was a lack of true confidence that he could defeat John Key in next year's election, Jane Patterson says…

Under a Labour government, young people unemployed for more than six months would be paid to do community or environmental work at the minimum wage. Video

The public should be more worried about Google and Facebook than New Zealand's spy agencies, Prime Minister John Key says.

An urgent authorisation for warrantless surveillance by the SIS has been reviewed by the Inspector-General of Security and Intelligence and has been found to have no 'material concerns'.

Power Play - David Cunliffe will be able to say he chose to leave Parliament, with his leader publicly wishing him well, but many of his colleagues have been counting down to his departure, writes…

Virginia Andersen has been selected to contest the Hutt South electorate for the Labour Party in next year's election.

Phil Goff's comments about Auckland's light rail proposal may mean the Labour Party cannot rely on the council to pay half of the cost. Audio

Police are being called on to urgently overhaul their vetting service, which runs checks on more than half a million New Zealanders each year. Audio

A meeting between the Deputy Prime Minister and two prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy figures was cancelled after he was told it could be 'diplomatically sensitive'.

Power Play - The Education Minister's announcement she is stepping down at next year's election came as a surprise to many. Jane Patterson looks back at the testy times of Hekia Parata.

A Cabinet reshuffle could be on the cards early next year after Education Minister Hekia Parata announced her intention to stand down at the election. Video