Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

The National-led Government is facing increasing pressure from Maori over its plans to sell minority stakes in four energy companies. (18′23″)

The imminent sale of New Zealand land and strategic assets has lit the fire under the issue of foreign ownership at the start of the political year. (17′45″)

During last year's election campaign the National Party campaigned strongly on the theme of financial responsibility. It said it would get the Government's books back into surplus in 2014-15 and the official forecast released just weeks before the election predicted the surplus would be as high as one-point-five billion dollars. This week, in his first speech of the year, the Prime Minister, John Key, has dampened down public expectations, saying the predicted surplus is now only three to five hundred million dollars. (18′15″)

The country's MPs finally got to break for their holidays this week but not before the new Labour leader, David Shearer, confronted the Prime Minister, John Key, for the first time in Parliament. (18′18″)

David Shearer, who hasn't yet served a full term in Parliament, was chosen to replace Phil Goff, as the leader of the Labour Party. The MP for Wellington Central, Grant Roberston, is the new deputy. (17′38″)

Just under 74-percent of enrolled voters actually cast a ballot - making the turnout at this years election the lowest in New Zealand since the 19th Century. (16′50″)

After last Saturday's election the National Party is on the verge of forming a second-term government. The ACT and United Future Parties are set to sign a deal with National while the Maori Party will go back to its supporters next week to get their approval for a proposed agreement. Meanwhile, the Labour Party, in the wake of its worst election result since the 1930s, will elect a new leader and deputy leader on December the 13th. (18′10″)

Political parties have just a few hours left to campaign before they leave it to the voters to decide the future direction of the country. National's leader John Key has made ominous warnings about instability if voters don't deliver him a majority government. Labour's leader Phil Goff says the choice for voters is simple: they either vote to sell State assets or retain them. (17′58″)

The week has been dominated by the controversy over the secret recording of the National Party leader John Key's conversation with ACT's Epsom candidate John Banks last week. (18′39″)

After days of speculation the National Party leader, John Key, finally sat down with ACT's Epsom candidate this afternoon. (18′19″)

At the end of a tumultous week of campaigning the Labour Party has released the costings of its election promises. (18′11″)

This week the Government opened its books, showing it was still on target to get the public finances back into surplus by 2014-15, but that ambition is dependent on what many consider are optimistic economic forecasts. (17′18″)

After 27 years in Parliament the Progressive Party leader, Jim Anderton, is standing down at next month's election. (18′23″)

The National Party gained the lion's share of the provincial seats at the 2008 election, leaving Palmerston North as the only general seat outside Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland held by Labour. (16′43″)

Last week two ratings agencies downgraded New Zealand's credit rating to double A, citing concerns about the size of the country's debt. (17′55″)

A Supreme Court decision on an appeal lodged by those charged in the Urewera police raids has, according to the Government, necessitated an urgent law change on covert police surveillance. (15′55″)