The announcement this week that the IAG deal a "good business", AMI Insurance, but the Crown with "bad deal", AMI, or $1.8 billion earthquake claims Purchase Canterbury is a perfect illustration of the phrase "to privatize the profits, ocialize but the losses. "

New Zealand's re-elected centre-right government claimed a mandate on Sunday to push on with up to $5 billion worth of asset sales and welfare reforms and at the same time claimed that it would quickly get down to forming a new administration.

Christmas card list, the prime minister is top-secret excluded. A request for names of the recipients - which last year involved more than 1,650 people - was rejected by the office of John Key, for security reasons. Cards with a picture of a smiling wife Bronagh and password were sent to varied senior politicians, officials and representatives of the press this week.

Winning a large crowd of Green Party followers for Paula Bennett National profitably in Waitakere Working Caramel Sepuloni a chance to vote in the seat. However, Labour MP Damien O'Connor both the Greens and National Party voters for his conquest in the west coast of Tasmania to thank.

Anti-Bases Campaign (ABC) Steffan Browning congratulated on his election as one of the new members of the Green Party. Steffan through the last decade has been the key contact ABC in Blenheim throughout the marathon campaign for the Waihopai spybase blocked. He has forever signified local greens of Blenheim and regular protests at the base.

The reappearance of New Zealand First could basically have been the difference between winning and losing and the parlous state of National's minor party allies, ACT, United Future and the Maori Party, will be causing calm angst in National Party circles.