Brent Edwards

In his first move of election year, Labour's leader David Cunliffe has dumped policies which had already been sidelined by his predecessor David Shearer. Audio

The ACT Party supports the Prime Minister's decision to keep open the option of deals with New Zealand First and the Conservatives after this year's election. Audio

For more on what these changes mean our political editor, Brent Edwards, joins us. Audio

The Prime Minister in his opening move of election year has outlined who he'd rather make deals with if it comes to forming to a new government. Audio

Radio New Zealand's political editor, Brent Edwards, gives commentary on how the political landscape looks in 2014, heading into an election year, with lots of new paries. Audio

Is the MMP electoral process really helping to represent the interests of New Zealand's growing ethnic diversity? Brent Edwards talks to National Party MP, Alfred Ngaro and Labour MPs, Rajen Prasad… Audio

Politicians from ethnic backgrounds are urging Parliament to do more to ensure the voices of their communities are heard. Audio

The Prime Minister does not believe voters will be put off if National signals it will work with parties like the Conservatives after next year's election. Audio

The United Future leader, Peter Dunne, cannot wait for the year to end after a tough 12 months in politics. Audio

The Government released its Budget Policy Statement and half year economic and fiscal update this week. It is continuing to forecast a budget surplus for 2014-15 and now plans to start paying back… Audio

A former top diplomat has criticised the State Services Commission and the Minister of Foreign Affairs over their handling of the investigation into who leaked documents about the restructuring of the… Audio

Auckland mayor rejects calls to resign; Councillor heading no-confidence move; Botched new IT system at DOC; Whanganui man jailed for 17 years for killing his daughter; Top Google searches for 2013 in… Audio

The Government has confirmed it will spend an extra one billion dollars in next year's Budget as it remains on track to return to surplus by the middle of 2015. Audio

The government intends to pass its amendments to employment law in the first half of next year in a move Opposition MPs say will drive down wages. Audio

Leaked papers on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade talks reveal deep differences between the 12 countries negotiating the agreement. Audio

The country's top spies appeared before the Intelligence and Security Committee this week to answer questions about the Security Intelligence Service and the Government Communications Security Bureau.

The Labour Party is criticising the Government's Security Council campaign at the same time as its foreign affairs spokesperson David Shearer is in New York lobbying countries to support the bid. Audio

A review of the country's constitution has recommended the Bill of Rights Act be strengthened to stop Parliament passing laws which breach it. Audio

The Finance Minister is conceding the Government will get considerably less than expected from its partial privatisation programme, but has rejected Opposition criticism that it is a failure. Audio

Our political editor Brent Edwards is with us. Audio