Wellington, Nov 16 NZPA - Prime Minister elect John Key will announce the formation of a National-led government at a series of press conferences with ACT, United Future and the Maori Party today.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, Nov 14 NZPA - Some key sticking points between National and its confidence and supply partners look likely to be pushed off the agenda with agreements to reviews/further work or for support on only the first reading of a bill.

Wellington, Nov 14 NZPA - National has locked in a deal with United Future leader Peter Dunne for support arrangements, with ACT and the Maori Party likely to follow soon. Mr Dunne today said he and National had concluded negotiations and agreed a deal.

Wellington, Nov 14 NZPA - The Maori Party is heading for an agreement with National which Labour is doing its best to upset.

by Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, Nov 13 NZPA - Maori Party MPs are getting positive feedback from hui discussing whether the party should support the National government, but Labour leader Phil Goff says they are taking a big risk.

Wellington, Nov 13 NZPA - Labour leader Phil Goff says the Maori Party is going against what Maori voters wanted by negotiating with the National Party. National is finalising support deals with ACT, United Future and the Maori Party after Saturday's decisive election result.

Wellington, Nov 13 NZPA - One of the first Maori Party hui gauging support for a deal with National has given a draft agreement the green light.

Wellington, Nov 12 NZPA - The Maori Party will consider a finalised draft support agreement with the National Party today, then go immediately on the road to get the views of its members.

Wellington, Nov 12 NZPA - Prime Minister elect John Key has begun a second round of talks with Maori Party leaders in a bid to sign up their support to a National-led government.

Wellington, Nov 12 NZPA - New Opposition leader Phil Goff says it was a mistake to ram through the controversial Electoral Finance Act without widespread support and Labour would like to take part in a review.

Wellington, Nov 12 NZPA - John Key is on track to announce his cabinet at the weekend and have it sworn in on Wednesday.

Wellington, Nov 11 NZPA - National leader John Key is laughing off signs of tension between his potential political support parties.

By Ian Llewellyn of NZPA Wellington, Nov 11 NZPA - National leader John Key is working towards forming a government by Sunday, though the exact details of the arrangements are still being thrashed out.

Wellington, Nov 11 NZPA - National Party leader John Key will today continue the fast-track formation of his new government, aiming to have it signed and settled by the end of the week. The incoming prime minister has already secured the votes he needs for a majority in Parliament.

NZPA political reporters Wellington, Nov 10 NZPA - National and ACT have reached an agreement which gives incoming prime minister John Key the votes he needs to form a government.

By Ian Llewellyn of NZPA Wellington, Nov 10 NZPA - United Future's Peter Dunne looks set to take a ministerial role outside of Cabinet in John Key's National led-Government.

By Grant Fleming of NZPA Wellington, Nov 10 NZPA - Negotiations to form the next government have begun with Prime Minister elect John Key entering talks with ACT leader Rodney Hide.

NZPA political reporters Wellington, Nov 10 - John Key has set a tight deadline for forming his new government and he's starting work on it today.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Auckland, Nov 9 NZPA - United Future leader Peter Dunne is looking forward to meeting National leader John Key tomorrow about his role in the new government.

By Grant Fleming of NZPA Auckland, Nov 9 NZPA - National Party leader John Key hopes to form the next government within eight days. National already has the support in principle of ACT and United Future, which he will begin government forming negotiations with tomorrow.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Auckland, Nov 9 NZPA - A stronger Green Party are intending to flex as much muscle as they can to advance their causes despite being shut, yet again, out of Parliament. They are getting down to business early with a caucus meeting tomorrow.

Auckland, Nov 9 NZPA - The ACT Party says it is more interested in providing New Zealand with a secure and stable government, than making policy demands during coalition negotiations with the National Party.

Wellington, Nov 9 NZPA - United Future leader Peter Dunne will once again be his party's lone voice in Parliament after it slumped to 0.9 percent support last night.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Auckland, Nov 9 NZPA - The Greens are back with two more MPs after yesterday's election but yet again the environmental party is shut out of government.

By Grant Fleming of NZPA Auckland, Nov 9 NZPA - National leader John Key says he wants to form a government with the broadest possible support base -- and that includes the Maori Party.

By Peter Wilson of NZPA Wellington, Nov 9 NZPA - National Party leader John Key will start forming a centre-right government this week after winning the general election and ending nine years of Labour reign.

Wellington, Nov 7 NZPA - National and its partner parties ACT and United Future are poised to win the election, latest opinion polls show.

NZPA political reporters Wellington, Nov 6 NZPA - National has just enough support to win the election but it would take only a small swing for Labour to hold on to power, latest polls show.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Auckland, Nov 5 NZPA - A relaxed Green co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons told an Auckland audience today that the party is looking good for Saturday's general election.

If Labour is in a position to put a government together after the election, Helen Clark is going to need all her skills to do it. PETER WILSON of NZPA looks at the challenges ahead for Labour's leader.