Mike Houlahan

Another Scrutiny Week is done and dusted, although some ministers and ministries came under more scrutiny than others.

As regular readers of Southern Say will know, this is a column which likes a cheap pun as much as the next hack.

If you like Parliament you well and truly had a treat last week, as the House sat until midnight Saturday under urgency to consider the wide range of legislation the government wanted to progress.

Vendetta is the Italian word for "revenge", and it was used quite a lot by Labour in the House on Tuesday.

The regulations review committee is one of those select committees which does not get the recognition it deserves.

New Zealand is not in clover, but there is reason to be optimistic as Finance Minister Nicola Willis prepares her second Budget, writes political editor Mike Houlahan.

You may have had a bad week but it’s probably nothing compared with the week Dunedin Labour MP Rachel Brooking has had.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis experienced a white-knuckle ride yesterday, flying out of windy Wellington for the calmer climes of Dunedin.

Every few weeks bingo counters get tipped into an old biscuit tin and one of the most beloved institutions of the New Zealand Parliament, the member’s Bill ballot, is held.

A Queenstown residence with lakefront views sounds amazing, but it’s not a happy lot for everyone.