Mike Houlahan

Conflict of interest allegations ‘defamatory’: Peters

ACT New Zealand leader David Seymour has vehemently denied any wrongdoing by his Southland list MP Todd Stephenson in his role as a parliamentary private secretary.

New MP grateful to be a citizen

Green Party list MP Francisco Hernandez amuses his party colleagues (from left) Tamatha Paul,...

New MP grateful to be a citizen

Dunedin's newest MP began his parliamentary career with impassioned thanks to his adopted country.

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Not dragging the chain: the fast-track process speeds along

Parliament Buildings, from left, Bowen House, the Beehive, and Parliament House. PHOTO: NZ HERALD

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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.

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Reading books to escape from the unhappiness of one’s life

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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.

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Going round a mulberry bush with hospital funding queries

The new Dunedin hospital. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY

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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.

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Yeah right — Penny Simmonds supports how the boss rolls

Penny Simmonds. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON

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Yeah right — Penny Simmonds supports how the boss rolls

The new government has had its first "Tui moment".

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New Dunedin Green MP’s journey to Parliament

Francisco Hernandez rallies the campus Greens with Scott Willis and party co-leader Marama...

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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.

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Leaders asking us to take the Aukus 2 model for a test drive

Aukus talks participants (from left) University of Otago Prof Robert Patman, former Tokelau prime...

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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.

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Son fought to stay with his family and farm

(Clockwise from top) The 32nd reinforcements wait outside Dunedin Railway Station as city mayor J...

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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.

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Southern Say: Simmonds dispenses with rights Bill

Penny Simmonds speaks at parliament on Wednesday. PHOTO: ODT FILES

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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

SONIC LIFE, Thurston Moore, Faber & Faber

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

FEAR: AN ALTERNATIVE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, Robert Peckham, Allen & Unwin

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

Taieri Green list MP Scott Willis has demanded that the government commit to building the new Dunedin hospital, as promised.

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Acting regionally but with the broader electoral map in mind

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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.

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Taieri MP’s exercise in trivialities

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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

Honor McKellar and Jonathan Lemalu. Photo: Gerard O'Brien

Obituary: revered performer and teacher

As a performer and educator, Honor McKellar has left a remarkable musical legacy in New Zealand.

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Debacle for Simmonds avoidable

Penny Simmonds responds to complaints about changes to disability funding policy. PHOTO:...

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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.

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Robertson reflects on political career

Grant Robertson hugs Labour leader and friend Chris Hipkins after his valedictory speech in...

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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

Grant Robertson delivers his final speech to Parliament. PHOTO: PARLIAMENT TV

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.

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Mike Houlahan