New MP grateful to be a citizen
New MP grateful to be a citizen
Dunedin's newest MP began his parliamentary career with impassioned thanks to his adopted country.
Mike Houlahan
SUBSCRIBER
Not dragging the chain: the fast-track process speeds along
SUBSCRIBER
Not dragging the chain: the fast-track process speeds along
They say that a fast game is a good game — but fast-tracking the game is another matter entirely.
SUBSCRIBER
Reading books to escape from the unhappiness of one’s life
SUBSCRIBER
Reading books to escape from the unhappiness of one’s life
As any school pupil or tertiary education student can tell you, there are few things more excruciating than having a teacher or lecturer going through your homework in public and picking holes in it.
SUBSCRIBER
Going round a mulberry bush with hospital funding queries
SUBSCRIBER
Going round a mulberry bush with hospital funding queries
Southern Say has highlighted the many attempts by our local MPs to get any indication at all from Health Minister Shane Reti that he'll deliver a National pledge to restore plans for the new Dunedin hospital (mostly) to the way they were.
SUBSCRIBER
Yeah right — Penny Simmonds supports how the boss rolls
SUBSCRIBER
Yeah right — Penny Simmonds supports how the boss rolls
The new government has had its first "Tui moment".
SUBSCRIBER
New Dunedin Green MP’s journey to Parliament
SUBSCRIBER
New Dunedin Green MP’s journey to Parliament
From political exile to future member of Parliament, Francisco Hernandez has been on a quite a journey, Mike Houlahan reports.
SUBSCRIBER
Leaders asking us to take the Aukus 2 model for a test drive
SUBSCRIBER
Leaders asking us to take the Aukus 2 model for a test drive
Parliament is in recess and the Prime Minister is sunning himself in Asia — which he may be very grateful for given the heat his government is feeling about its long-promised plans to pare back the public service.
SUBSCRIBER
Son fought to stay with his family and farm
SUBSCRIBER
Son fought to stay with his family and farm
War has deprived thousands of southern families of loved ones, but not every war story involves a battlefield. Mike Houlahan explores the story of Otago farmer Frederick Hugh Russell.
SUBSCRIBER
Southern Say: Simmonds dispenses with rights Bill
SUBSCRIBER
Southern Say: Simmonds dispenses with rights Bill
The James Shaw farewell tour kicked into high gear this week, as Parliament debated - and rejected - his New Zealand Bill of Rights (Right to Sustainable Environment) Amendment Bill at first reading.
Review: Enthusiasm emerges in rock recollections
Review: Enthusiasm emerges in rock recollections
Thurston Moore, co-founder of US so-hip-it-hurts band Sonic Youth, would be ashamed of me.
Review: Taking stock of how fear has driven us
Review: Taking stock of how fear has driven us
Of the thousands of quotes about fear, perhaps the most famous is US President Franklin Roosevelt’s immortal line that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself".
MP demands government fulfil hospital promise
MP demands government fulfil hospital promise
Taieri Green list MP Scott Willis has demanded that the government commit to building the new Dunedin hospital, as promised.
SUBSCRIBER
Acting regionally but with the broader electoral map in mind
SUBSCRIBER
Acting regionally but with the broader electoral map in mind
In November 2019, two weary years after he became the minister for regional economic development, Shane Jones came to Dunedin and dished out $60 million of tax payers’ money on a variety of projects.
Obituary: revered teacher, prized singer
Obituary: revered teacher, prized singer
Bruce McMillan was first and foremost a teacher, but he also made a significant contribution to the musical life of Dunedin.
SUBSCRIBER
Taieri MP’s exercise in trivialities
SUBSCRIBER
Taieri MP’s exercise in trivialities
The voters of Taieri got their money’s worth out of local MP Ingrid Leary this week, at least in terms of time taken up speaking in Parliament.
Obituary: revered performer and teacher
Obituary: revered performer and teacher
As a performer and educator, Honor McKellar has left a remarkable musical legacy in New Zealand.
SUBSCRIBER
Debacle for Simmonds avoidable
SUBSCRIBER
Debacle for Simmonds avoidable
It is something which befalls every new government, and every new Cabinet minister lives in dread it will be them — being the first minister on whose watch something goes catastrophically wrong.
SUBSCRIBER
Robertson reflects on political career
SUBSCRIBER
Robertson reflects on political career
Former deputy prime minister Grant Robertson is on his way home to Dunedin.
Robertson calls for tax reform in final speech
Robertson calls for tax reform in final speech
South Dunedin’s favourite son Grant Robertson said farewell to Parliament last night with a thoughtful speech which took his audience from Carisbrook to Hillside and back again.
SUBSCRIBER
Bill greeted with both glee and dismay
SUBSCRIBER
Bill greeted with both glee and dismay
It would be fair to say that most MPs were very tired last Thursday, as the final pieces of the government’s 100-day action plan slumped into place.