By: Barry Soper | Monday, January 28, 2013 6:00 AM

Well no one can say that politics hasn't got off to a rip roaring start this year.

Just over a week ago we were talking about State Homie John Key's health after he collapsed in a Christchurch restaurant after breaking into a sweat, and no it wasn't because he'd been presented with the bill.

The following day he was snowed in at Scott base in Antarctica with the sweat being well and truly suppressed by the sub zero conditions.

The Homie says his faint was caused by a lack of blood to the brain which was clearly flooding back when he returned this time last week calling Kate Wilkinson and telling her the Cabinet door was no longer her's to open and the next morning doing the same to Phil Heatley.

But by comparison to Hekia Parata in education and her year of bad report cards, they were superstars while she remains firmly ensconced on the Tory's front bench. It seems The Homie believes she's got the potential to become a star performer which is beyond the comprehension of her detractors.

Pita Sharples has been the Houdini of Maori politics over the past week, holding on to his co-leadership of the Maori Party even though his other half Tariana Terrier told him to call it a day and his colleague Te Ururoa Flavell made it plain he wants his job. The 72-year-old Sharples, who'd be just hitting his straps if he was in American politics, has no plans to go anywhere and says he'll stand at the next election.

But it was the leadership of the big parties that was put to the test over the past few days. The Homie addressing a well heeled business audience in Auckland, telling them the country's doing alright but using examples created by others. The quadrupling of trade with The Dragon over the past four years is thanks to Labour negotiating the free trade agreement with China and the construction boom in Christchurch was thanks to the cruel hand of Mother Nature.

Last night we saw Dithering David Shearer, who could well become the Prime Minister by default next year, addressing a very different audience in Wainuiomata, a town made famous in the 90s by Chloe and her rip roaring tiger slippers.

So it's back to business, let the battle begin!