Craig McCulloch

It's crunch time for Winston Peters as he pushes into the final day of talks over forming a new government, and he says today will be the most substantive yet.

The country may be kept in the dark over who will lead the next government right through until next week. Audio

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is to host up to four rounds of coalition talks today. Audio

The second round of talks to pull together a new government will kick off this morning and could stretch into the night.

Former Green MPs are rubbishing the prospect of the party doing any deal with National, with some chalking up such talk as 'mischief-making'.

National and Labour are assembling their teams of negotiators, each vying to win over Winston Peters to form a government.

Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell has signalled an end to his political career after voters ousted him and his party from Parliament.

First Person - From nowhere, this election suddenly got interesting, and it has Craig McCulloch and the campaigning politicians he covers on edge.

A group of marauding pirates have ambushed a Labour Party rally in New Plymouth, inviting its leader to join them for a rum.

The Labour Party is promising to challenge Australia over its detention policy, but won't commit to taking any action in retaliation.

Inland Revenue has cleared its staff of leaking private information in relation to Winston Peters' superannuation overpayment.

The National and ACT parties have received a frosty reception at a meeting with families of suicide victims after both sending last-minute representatives.

Jacinda Ardern has outlined her priorities for the first 100 days of a Labour-led government, putting housing and education at the top of her list.

Bill English and Jacinda Ardern have duked it out in their most fiery debate, talking over each other often in front of a raucous crowd.

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".

Bill English and Jacinda Ardern are studying for tonight's debate in what will be voters' first chance to see the leaders go head-to-head.

National's promising to get tough on freedom campers if re-elected, introducing stricter rules on where they can stay.

National's Brett Hudson has to get used to asking people to vote for him, and Labour's Greg O'Connor is worried his supporters will stay home. Audio

Pike River families are hailing today as a "moral victory" after MPs from four parties pledged to act immediately to re-enter the West Coast mine if in government.

The Māori Party is pitching itself as a potential king-maker in the upcoming election, saying it's open to supporting either National or Labour.

Green Party leader James Shaw is advising his MPs to keep level heads as passions run high following the sudden resignation of Metiria Turei. Audio

Green co-leader Metiria Turei is accusing outside opponents of making "wild accusations" in a bid to bring down the party.

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

The Green Party is in chaos after the shock announcement by two of its MPs that they have lost confidence in Metiria Turei. Video