Southern Say

What of southern MPs after Ardern and reshuffle?

Departing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern farewells soon-to-depart Dunedin MP David Clark. PHOTO:...

What of southern MPs after Ardern and reshuffle?

January is usually a sleepy month in New Zealand politics, when very little happens and topical columns take a break due to there being, well, very few topics to discuss.

Dunedin hospital bed cut farce funny if it wasn’t so serious

Dunedin Labour MP David Clark at work on the hospital site.

Dunedin hospital bed cut farce funny if it wasn’t so serious

Three weeks ago Southern Say suggested that the new Dunedin hospital was the dominant southern political issue at the moment.

Clark yet to escape brave new water world

David Clark: "New Zealanders expect and deserve safe drinking water, sewage infrastructure, and...

Clark yet to escape brave new water world

SOUTHERN SAY: Dunedin Labour MP David Clark has decided to finish with politics, but politics is yet to finish with him.

Off to the races for booze amendment

The Central Otago tradition that is the Omakau races. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH

Off to the races for booze amendment

There is a racing term, the off-course substitute, which refers to the horse you end up backing in a bet such as a double or treble if your horse is late scratched.

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Hospital form still case of watch this space

The new Dunedin Hospital site, yesterday. Photo: Peter McIntosh

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Hospital form still case of watch this space

Sitting in the Otago Daily Times newsroom you do not have to look far to see the biggest political issue in Dunedin right now.

Simmonds’ polytechnic offensive not going away

Invercargill National MP Penny Simmonds grills Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson over Te...

Simmonds’ polytechnic offensive not going away

SOUTHERN SAY: There's an old song in Sesame Street about one of these things being not like the other.

MPs acting locally and thinking globally

Dunedin Labour list MP Rachel Brooking with the first emissions budget. Photo: Parliament TV

MPs acting locally and thinking globally

Right up until a stray missile distracted everyone, the attention of world leaders was focused on Egypt and the ongoing COP27 summit.

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Question puts new speaker through his paces

Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean, Speaker Adrian Rurawhe (below) and Dunedin list MP Michael Woodhouse ...

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Question puts new speaker through his paces

Adrian Rurawhe has only been in the Speaker’s chair for a few weeks but on Thursday he faced his toughest challenge to date, and from an unlikely source at that.

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Southern say: Willis gets chance to press flesh

National deputy leader Nicola Willis speaks at a Business South lunch event in Dunedin yesterday....

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Nats’ No 2 Willis gets chance to press the flesh

National's deputy leader Nicola Willis visited Dunedin this week and spoke at a Business South lunch, setting out a four-point economic plan the party proposes taking to the electorate next year.

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FPA Act takes us back to the future

Michael Woodhouse, Cargills Enterprises worker Michael Bardick, 2020 National Taieri candidate...

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FPA Act takes us back to the future

This week, after a tangled and at times excruciating filibuster, the Government finally passed its Fair Pay Agreements Act.

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Workforce issues hitting Otago hospitality hard

National Southland MP Joseph Mooney at Coronet Peak, one of many attractions in his electorate...

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Workforce issues hitting Otago hospitality hard

Southern Say just spent a week off visiting the scenic Waitaki electorate, and it was not hard to spot one of the major issues besetting that glorious part of New Zealand.

Craig’s first six months; Woodhouse in a huff

Invercargill Labour list MP Liz Craig, working on health and local issues. PHOTO: LAURA SMITH

Craig’s first six months; Woodhouse in a huff

It is now more than six months since Invercargill Labour list MP Liz Craig was elevated to the rank of parliamentary private secretary for health.

Labour likely to make women a key issue

It may be ascribing too much to a speech late in the general debate a year out from polling day, but on Wednesday Taieri Labour MP Ingrid Leary might have revealed the site of one of the...

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Regulations around animal welfare matter

Animal Law Association member and University of Otago law lecturer Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere...

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Regulations around animal welfare matter

All of Parliament’s select committees are created equal, but some select committees are more equal than others.

Bill on biosecurity penalties moving forward

Jacqui Dean, usually in the Speaker’s chair, takes a rare call in the debating chamber. Photo:...

Bill on biosecurity penalties moving forward

If all goes according to plan — and this is Parliament so nothing is guaranteed — next week Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean has what will likely be her last chance to legislate.

Strengths on show in PM’s visit to South

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Dunedin MP Dr David Clark stop for refreshments at Otago...

Strengths on show in PM’s visit to South

Given her job you would expect Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to know about many things, but she is still capable of springing a surprise.

Bill to ban live exports debated in House

The livestock carrier Rahmeh, berthed in Western Australia in 2016. Four years later, renamed...

Bill to ban live exports debated in House

The Animal Welfare Bill sounds like a broad, sweeping piece of legislation, but it actually has a single and narrow purpose: to ban the live export of cattle, deer, sheep and goats by sea.

Small gains, big problems trouble politicians

Parliament looks set to pass a Bill to expand ACC eligibility to include maternal birth injuries....

Small gains, big problems trouble politicians

Back in 1967, Owen Woodhouse released his landmark report which recommended that New Zealand set up a no-fault compensation scheme for unintended injury.

Right to free expression can be fraught

National Dunedin list MP Michael Woodhouse expresses his views on the campaign trail. PHOTO:...

Right to free expression can be fraught

Be it an exchange of ideas or preaching to the converted, the Free Speech Union is entitled to provide a forum for people to speak their minds, writes Mike Houlahan.

Accessibility Bill: will it make a big difference?

Accessibility Bill: will it make a big difference?

On Tuesday Parliament took an important step towards lowering barriers and guaranteeing equality for all ... or not, take your pick.

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