Mr Key, Labour leader David Cunliffe and Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei all used the lead-up to Parliament resuming to deliver state of the nation addresses.
Coincidentally, all three of the speeches focused on education and what benefits could be provided for children as the recovery in New Zealand's economy continues its upward trajectory.
However, a closer look at the statement provided by Mr Key, in which he outlines his Government's election year priorities, reveals he is set on a collision course with the left of the political spectrum.
There will be no surprise Mr Key is taking such a tack because as several parties in Parliament acknowledged in some way or another yesterday, the election later this year will provide a clear choice for voters.
Mr Key became prime minister in 2008, at a time he says the newly-elected Government faced - in the absence of policy changes - permanent structural deficits and ever-increasing government debt, reaching 60% of gross domestic product by the early 2020s.
He says the Government has worked hard to turn the situation around by reining in spending, improving public-sector productivity and getting on top of the longer-term drivers of government spending.
Forecasts presented in the most recent update by the Treasury indicate the Government is on track to meet its fiscal targets.
There will be more of the same from Mr Key this year as he seeks to lead the National Party to a third consecutive victory in the race to form a coalition government.
In his statement, he acknowledged the support of confidence and supply parties Act New Zealand, United Future and Maori parties for their support.
He will need them this year.
Among some of the contentious policy being pursued this year is the determination to seek an outcome to the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, consistent with the vision agreed in the 2011 Honolulu statements.
Major concerns have been raised about New Zealand selling off some of its sovereignty, particularly around Pharmac and some trade agreements, by pursuing the TPP and the dissent will not disappear before the election later this year.
While acknowledging the Government's innovation policy and touching on the steps to increase skills and support jobs, Mr Key firmly restated the intention to reform employment law, something bound to bring cries of outrage from unions and those on the left of the political spectrum.
This year, the Government will push through legislation to ''ensure more fairness and flexibility'' in employment law, including flexible working arrangements, speedier resolution of employment disputes and improving collective bargaining rules.
By improving bargaining rules and providing a speedier resolution of disputes, Mr Key will give employers much greater flexibility, at the expense of union-negotiated collective agreements.
The exploration of the country's natural resources has become a catch-cry of the Government, and this year will be no different.
This year, the Government will push through the remainder of its resource management reform which, among other things, will reduce the number of consent applications that are required, reduce costs and reduce the length of time involved in processing consents.
Also, the Crown Irrigation Company is in a position to invest in rural water storage schemes that meet its strict criteria.
If there are two issues bound to cause dissent among Mr Key's opponents they will be rushing through consents and rural water storage schemes, especially if an increase in dairy farms is a result.
Mr Key is taking a calculated risk that by pushing through issues many New Zealanders agree with, and by sticking with the plan of returning the economy to surplus without cutting public services, he will force a clear division for voters to decide on the future they want.
His decision of timing the election to coincide with his policy initiatives will be his greatest challenge.
