Mike Houlahan

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Ministers and backbenchers alike hunt game in the House

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Ministers and backbenchers alike hunt game in the House

To reverse a famous observation by Oscar Wilde, there is only one thing in life worse than not being talked about, and that is being talked about.

Obituary: heavenly pop hit for anybody

Martin Phillipps took the music of Dunedin to the world.

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Flipper-licking good but it may not be at all good for you

Sanford's salmon farm, Stewart Island. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

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Flipper-licking good but it may not be at all good for you

Somewhere on a Stewart Island rock, or perhaps on a Rakiura beach, sit two very interested parties to a Bill which might — Labour’s filibustering tactics notwithstanding — finally have its...

Cromwell field surgery trailblazer remembered

A few decades ago, hit American sitcom M*A*S*H was so ubiquitous it was believed an episode depicting the antics of US army medics during the Korean War was being screened on TV somewhere in the world every minute of the day.

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Brooking battles through the watery preliminary round

Dunedin Labour MP Rachel Brooking let out all her frustrations when addressing Parliament about...

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Brooking battles through the watery preliminary round

Preliminary, according to the pocket dictionary I’ve carried everywhere since the 1980s, means something preceding or preparing for the main act.

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Pinning the tail on the Act NZ donkey

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Pinning the tail on the Act NZ donkey

Act New Zealand Southland list MP Todd Stephenson is no-one’s idea of a wild-eyed, rabble-rousing rebel, but he unexpectedly found himself at the forefront of a mini revolt against Speaker Gerry...

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‘Dark shadow’: historic day must lead to historic actions

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks to abuse survivors in Parliament. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

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‘Dark shadow’: historic day must lead to historic actions

It's not often the House is close to full late on a Wednesday afternoon, and even rarer that all MPs sit through all 12 speeches of a debate. But the debate on the final report of the abuse in care inquiry was something different.

Good morning and welcome, Dunedin is ready for visitors

Chloe Swarbrick enjoying being back in Dunedin. PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIEN

Good morning and welcome, Dunedin is ready for visitors

For many, politics is the clashes at Question Time, the media scrum of the black and white tiles, and the cut and thrust of public meetings.

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Let them eat cake as the Act roadshow hits a town near you

Act New Zealand MPs Mark Cameron (left) and Todd Stephenson (right) get a guided tour of...

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Let them eat cake as the Act roadshow hits a town near you

When it comes to winning votes, every little bit helps.

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Don’t you forget about me

Chris Hipkins rallies the faithful at the Hutton Theatre last Monday. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON

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Don’t you forget about me, because there is an alternative

Music fans of a certain vintage will remember Scottish rockers Simple Minds and their hit Don’t You (Forget About Me), which made it to number 3 in the New Zealand charts back in 1985.

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Hospital up to govt — Hipkins

Labour leader Chris Hipkins takes questions from the floor during a meeting in Dunedin yesterday....

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Hospital up to govt — Hipkins

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has defended his party’s record on the new Dunedin hospital project and challenged National to deliver on its pre-election promises.

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All hail the dinner bell, the parliamentary lord of the rings

Francisco Hernandez. Photo: Peter McIntosh/ODT files

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All hail the dinner bell, the parliamentary lord of the rings

New Dunedin Green list MP Francisco Hernandez this week experienced a rite of passage moment for a newbie from his party: being an almost lone voice in opposition.

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Smoothing down feathers and riding out budget blowouts

Health Minister Shane Reti about to tour the new Dunedin hospital site. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON

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Smoothing down feathers and riding out budget blowouts

Health Minister Shane Reti spent his Tuesday ruffling feathers aplenty in Dunedin, and spent the rest of his week trying to smooth them down.

Obituary: big noise, big mouth, big influence on modern music

Steve Albini playing with Shellac in 1996. Photo: Getty Images

Obituary: big noise, big mouth, big influence on modern music

Standing in the foyer of the late, lamented Chicks Hotel in 2015 I had my one and only confrontation with the legendary Steve Albini.

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Southern say: A mission for ‘Rural Nats’

Miles Anderson at Fieldays. PHOTO: FACEBOOK

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Shoring up the vote? Looks like a mission for ‘Rural Nats’

Waitaki National MP Miles Anderson picked up a new job this week ... although quite how different it is to his current job is a moot point.

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A visitor from far, far away finally ventures down to Dunedin

Chris Bishop speaks. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH

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A visitor from far, far away finally ventures down to Dunedin

Finally, after months of waiting, a really senior National party minister came to Dunedin on Wednesday.

Obituary: final years made big difference

Cancer patient Stephen Hoffman advocated for others. Photo: Gregor Richardson

Obituary: final years made big difference

STEPHEN HOFFMAN Health advocate There was absolutely no reason that Stephen Hoffman and I should have met.

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Happy Christmas, war is over. But has another started?

Chris Bishop said the First Home Grant was an "expensive and inefficient way to support first...

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Happy Christmas, war is over. But has another started?

Tuesday was either the day that the war on farmers ended or the day the war on nature started, depending on what side of the House you sit on.

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Negative growth predicted for financial year

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Negative growth predicted for financial year

If you had idly wondered why the government is so hell-bent on passing fast-track consenting legislation, Budget 2024 clearly answers your question.

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Prudent approach taken by Willis

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Prudent approach taken by Willis

As debut Budgets go, this was a pretty responsible effort. Nicola Willis only occasionally waved her magic wand and all the big spending initiatives - not that there were many - were signalled well in advance, and duly delivered.

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Mike Houlahan