Jane Patterson

Power Play - Lobbying for the top job in the National Party will reach fever pitch this week, with Mark Mitchell and Steven Joyce likely to declare their intentions today.

The fees-free tertiary policy has been dubbed 'Rorts R Us' by the ACT Party, after the penalty for false claims was significantly scaled back.

Power Play - Phones will be running hot in the National Party, now Adams, Bridges and Collins have shown their hand.

Amy Adams is the latest National MP to announce a run for the role of party leader, just a day after Bill English resigned the position. Video, Audio

Power Play - While Bill English was given the courtesy of announcing his own resignation, potential successors have already begun agitating for support, writes Jane Patterson.

Green MP Julie Anne Genter has acknowledged Metiria Turei's admission of benefit fraud could have been handled better, as she launches her bid for co-leader.

The United Kingdom has singled out New Zealand and Australia as being the first cabs off the rank for free trade deals after it exits the European Union.

Power Play - In its first major test the Government has managed to largely tick off the list of actions it promised to take in its first 100 days.

The international education sector is pushing back against moves to crack down on the ability of overseas students to a get job and then permanent residence.

Power Play - National's discussions on leadership come amid a sense of aggrieved disbelief the party failed to form a government in coalition negotiations, writes Jane Patterson.

The opposition leader says National was denied the opportunity to help shape child poverty legislation.

Successive governments will have to meet a range of targets to reduce child poverty rates, if the Prime Minister's bill becomes law. Video

The government is 'holding fire' on any changes to the rights of international students to work while studying, after officials advised a cautious approach was needed to protect tertiary institutions.

New permanent residents are now less skilled than five years ago, due to some international students exploiting the student visa scheme.

The government will spend $13 million aiming to get about 2000 young unemployed people into work in the first phase of its new job scheme. Audio

The New Zealand First leader and foreign minister is defending his party's switch to support the newly negotiated TPP. Audio

The government will have to rely on support from National to get the revised TPP over the line, with the Greens once again ruling out legislative support.

Power Play - Both Labour and National campaigned on multi-billion dollar social packages. Ultimately, both parties have been trying to achieve a very similar result, Jane Patterson writes.

New Zealand First was the only party involved in coalition talks not to make any requests for information from government officials.

The National Party is warning the Labour coalition government is going to struggle to cover basic costs in the future, after the books were opened for a post election update.

The government has confirmed details about a families income package that it expects will lift about 88,000 New Zealand children out of poverty.

Power Play - It hasn't been smooth sailing for the new government in its first eight weeks in office, writes Jane Patterson but it appears largely on track to deliver its 100-day plan.

New Zealand should have "strings attached" for its training work in Iraq, and push for political reform in the country, a visiting expert says.

People living near Ohakea and Woodbourne defence bases are being told not to drink their tap water for at least a month while the supply is tested for contamination.

New Zealand students who finish school this year or will finish during next year will be eligible for a year's free tertiary study or industry training.