Mike Houlahan

SUBSCRIBER

Forestry needs questioning, like all land use

Southland MP Joseph Mooney surveys forestry slash in Tairāwhiti/Gisborne. PHOTO: FACEBOOK

SUBSCRIBER

Forestry needs questioning, like all land use

With the greatest of respect to the multibillion-dollar timber industry, it would be fair to say that not many people’s first inclination when a political party announces a portfolio reshuffle is...

Accessibility Bill seen as talkfest, unenforceable

Accessibility Bill seen as talkfest, unenforceable

Back in August last year, Southern Say considered the Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill, noting that very few of the people who the Government intended to help by passing it seemed very...

SUBSCRIBER

Top has clear strategy for southern seats

The Opportunities Party leader Raf Manji at his campaign launch in Ilam on Wednesday. PHOTOS:...

SUBSCRIBER

Top has clear strategy for southern seats

So, there we were, all agog at the prospect of Parliament being back after a two-month absence — go on, I know you were — when Cyclone Gabrielle derailed everyone’s thinking.

Reshuffles take a back seat to Hipkins’ big clean-out

Rachel Brooking chairs her first finance and expenditure select committee meeting. PHOTO: PARLIAMENT

Reshuffles take a back seat to Hipkins’ big clean-out

As you may recall, Labour and National did some cleaning over the summer break and neatly rearranged their front benches for the new parliamentary year.

SUBSCRIBER

Clark pushes grocery industry Bill, shows health minister hospital site

Health Minister Ayesha Verrall is shown around the new Dunedin hospital site by colleagues Rachel...

SUBSCRIBER

Clark pushes grocery industry Bill, shows health minister hospital site

There are plenty of moments in politics which seem like exercises in futility, and Monday morning served up another one.

New minister sees hospital as key issue

Dr Ayesha Verrall, Minister for Seniors, Minister for Food Safety, Associate Minister of Health...

New minister sees hospital as key issue

Incoming Health Minister Ayesha Verrall says the future of the new Dunedin Hospital project will be a major focus for her.

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.

Labour reacts well to crisis, avoids leadership battle

Labour reacts well to crisis, avoids leadership battle

The usually solid political management skills of Labour demonstrated over the past five years have been shaky in the past 12 months, but over the last three days it's reacted perfectly to an unexpected crisis.

‘Privilege and responsibility’

Incoming Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and incoming Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni during...

‘Privilege and responsibility’

A trip to Auckland today, the annual Ratana celebrations tomorrow, and being sworn in on Wednesday means Prime Minister-designate Chris Hipkins has little time to reflect on his sudden rise to power.

A PM who was ‘anything but complacent’

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is congratulated by conference delegates after her keynote address...

A PM who was ‘anything but complacent’

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is going, but she certainly will not be forgotten.

Time to ‘call it a day’ — Ardern resigns

The annual Labour caucus retreat began yesterday with the ultimate withdrawal, the unexpected resignation of party leader and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Southern MPs understanding of Ardern's departure

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern puts her arm around fiance Clarke Gayford as they leave her media...

Southern MPs understanding of PM’s departure

Labour's Southern MPs, like the rest of the country, were stunned yesterday when Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation.

Woodhouse gets new job in Nats’ reshuffle

Woodhouse gets new job in Nats’ reshuffle

Talk about having your thunder stolen.

Time to ‘call it a day’ — Ardern resigns

The annual Labour caucus retreat began yesterday with the ultimate withdrawal, the unexpected resignation of party leader and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

SUBSCRIBER

Everyday events and some comedy served to lighten the grim times

The non-commissioned officers of the Otago Infantry Group pictured just before their departure...

SUBSCRIBER

Everyday events and some comedy served to lighten the grim times

Despite the ravages of World Wars 1 and 2, life back home went on.

SUBSCRIBER

Role attracted headlines

David Clark and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern have a cuppa at Otago Polytechnic. Photo: ODT Files

SUBSCRIBER

Role attracted headlines

In the fourth of a five-part series, the Otago Daily Times names the South’s top 20 inspiring people for 2022.

SUBSCRIBER

Reporters were as grief-stricken as the public when Queen Victoria died

The luncheon for returned First and Second Contingent members, held at the Dunedin Agricultural...

SUBSCRIBER

Reporters were as grief-stricken as the public when Queen Victoria died

In mid-2022 Dunedin marked the end of a new Elizabethan era after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

SUBSCRIBER

Safety reports formerly released to public remain confidential

SUBSCRIBER

Safety reports formerly released to public remain confidential

Two important annual safety reports which would once have been publicly released remain confidential.

SUBSCRIBER

Bed number mystery still to be solved

Despite multiple assessments Mrs A's cancer went undiagnosed for months. Photo: Getty Images

SUBSCRIBER

Bed number mystery still to be solved

The mystery of when it was discovered that the number of beds in the detailed business case for the new Dunedin hospital was wrong may take another two months to solve.

SUBSCRIBER

Talkies not talked up for quite some time

Al Jolson in a scene from The Jazz Singer. Photo: Getty Images

SUBSCRIBER

Talkies not talked up for quite some time

We take it for granted today, but for a generation of cinema-goers the actors in films did not speak out loud.

Search form

Search form

Mike Houlahan