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politics

NationalAugust 13

PM took ‘decisive action’ against challenger Penk, Stanford confirms support

National MP tipped as a leadership challenger Erica Stanford has finally given her full backing to the prime minister - having earlier refused to answer the question.
PM took ‘decisive action’ against challenger Penk, Stanford confirms support
PM took ‘decisive action’ against challenger Penk, Stanford confirms support
NationalAugust 12

Luxon's leadership victory: You come at the King, you best not miss

Analysis: National MPs who tried and failed to take down Christopher Luxon on Wednesday should be embarrassed and ashamed.
Luxon's leadership victory: You come at the King, you best not miss
Luxon's leadership victory: You come at the King, you best not miss
NationalAugust 12

‘Full support’: Luxon stays on as leader

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has held on to his leadership, saying he has the "full support" of the National caucus.
‘Full support’: Luxon stays on as leader
‘Full support’: Luxon stays on as leader
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NationalAugust 12

Opinion: Send in the clowns as ringmaster Luxon wins again

Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins do not agree about a lot, but they were likely unified on one front today.
Mike Houlahan
Opinion: Send in the clowns as ringmaster Luxon wins again
Opinion: Send in the clowns as ringmaster Luxon wins again
SouthlandAugust 11

Govt to front $15m towards critical mineral, hydrogen plant in Southland

A new facility in Southland that will produce critical minerals and hydrogen will receive a $15 million funding boost from the government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund.
Govt to front $15m towards critical mineral, hydrogen plant in Southland
Govt to front $15m towards critical mineral, hydrogen plant in Southland
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OpinionAugust 11

Analysis: Awaiting the PM, whoever you are

On Friday the Prime Minister will be in Christchurch to speak at the South Island Election Conference. And who might the Prime Minister be? We’ll come back to you on that one.
Mike Houlahan
Analysis: Awaiting the PM, whoever you are
Analysis: Awaiting the PM, whoever you are
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DunedinAugust 11

Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, stuck in the middle with Eb at OUSA debate

THERE can be few things worse than being at work and quietly going about doing your job while, unbeknownst to you, you might not actually have a job tomorrow.
Mike Houlahan
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, stuck in the middle with Eb at OUSA debate
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, stuck in the middle with Eb at OUSA debate
NationalAugust 11

Who could succeed Luxon?

There's no obvious single challenger within the caucus, but a few names stand out.
RNZ
Who could succeed Luxon?
Who could succeed Luxon?
NationalAugust 11

Labour MP discovers ‘by chance’ she’s one of 115,000 on dormant electoral roll

Labour MP Willow-Jean Prime is sounding the alarm after discovering she was moved on to the dormant electoral roll earlier this year without her knowledge.
Labour MP discovers ‘by chance’ she’s one of 115,000 on dormant electoral roll
Labour MP discovers ‘by chance’ she’s one of 115,000 on dormant electoral roll
NationalAugust 10

Southern MPs back Luxon as PM calls urgent meeting over leadership

Southern MPs Penny Simmonds and Joseph Mooney say they support Prime Minister Christopher Luxon after he called an urgent in-person caucus meeting to resolve "increased speculation" about his leadership.
Southern MPs back Luxon as PM calls urgent meeting over leadership
Southern MPs back Luxon as PM calls urgent meeting over leadership
NationalAugust 10

Election 2026 by the numbers

The Electoral Commission has launched its enrolment campaign ahead of the November election - and with it, a hefty serving of the latest stats.
Russell Palmer of RNZ
Election 2026 by the numbers
Election 2026 by the numbers
NationalAugust 10

Labour leader rules out working with NZ First

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has finally and officially ruled out working with New Zealand First in any government he leads.
Labour leader rules out working with NZ First
Labour leader rules out working with NZ First
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OpinionAugust 7

A reminder to Te Pāti Māori of the talent they have squandered

TE Tai Tonga MP Tākuta Ferris does not get that many days in the Parliamentary sun.
Mike Houlahan
A reminder to Te Pāti Māori of the talent they have squandered
A reminder to Te Pāti Māori of the talent they have squandered
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OpinionJuly 31

So near but so far from unanimity on firearms reform

On March 23 2019, a week after the senseless and repugnant terror attack on two Christchurch mosques, I opined in this column that the looming reform of the Arms Act promised in the wake of that atrocity needed to be careful and considered, and that all New Zealanders needed to feel protected by any new laws.
Mike Houlahan
So near but so far from unanimity on firearms reform
So near but so far from unanimity on firearms reform
DunedinJuly 31

Taieri candidate missing as Opportunity releases party list

The Opportunity Party has released its party list, which has its Dunedin candidate David Bainbridge-Zafar placed at a potentially electable 8.
Mike Houlahan
Taieri candidate missing as Opportunity releases party list
Taieri candidate missing as Opportunity releases party list
NationalJuly 24

Election 2026 interview: Green Party co-leaders

ODT political editor Mike Houlahan talks to co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick.
Mike Houlahan
Election 2026 interview: Green Party co-leaders
Election 2026 interview: Green Party co-leaders
NationalJuly 20

Election 2026 interview: National's Joseph Mooney

This week's Election 2026 political interview guest is National Southland MP Joseph Mooney.
Mike Houlahan
Election 2026 interview: National's Joseph Mooney
Election 2026 interview: National's Joseph Mooney
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OpinionJuly 10

The woes at Wakari reach the House of Representatives

Parliament is in recess now but before MPs departed for a break they put in the hard yards and then some.
The woes at Wakari reach the House of Representatives
The woes at Wakari reach the House of Representatives
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NationalJune 27

Helping hand may still be made available for students - Simmonds

A review of the funding system for tertiary education is intended to address critical skills shortages, Tertiary Education Minister Penny Simmonds says.
Helping hand may still be made available for students - Simmonds
Helping hand may still be made available for students - Simmonds
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OpinionJune 19

Frantic scrutiny of MBIE

Parliament has spend this week enjoying/enduring (delete as you see fit) scrutiny week, its twice yearly in-depth examination of government expenditure by select committees.
Frantic scrutiny of MBIE
Frantic scrutiny of MBIE
NewsJune 12

Hyperbole a dig against mining’s ‘doubting Thomases’

Taxes paid by mining companies proposing to operate in Central Otago will play a crucial part in funding services in the South, Minister of Resources Shane Jones says.
Hyperbole a dig against mining’s ‘doubting Thomases’
Hyperbole a dig against mining’s ‘doubting Thomases’
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OpinionJune 12

Researching the best way forward for academic inquiry

Being a junior Cabinet minister and with an election just a few months away, Invercargill National MP Penny Simmonds is not going to get too many chances to strut her stuff before heading out on the campaign trail.
Researching the best way forward for academic inquiry
Researching the best way forward for academic inquiry
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DunedinJune 8

Brooking rises in Labour’s list rankings

Labour’s hierarchy has cast a vote in favour of its Dunedin MP Rachel Brooking, giving her a substantial promotion on its party list.
Brooking rises in Labour’s list rankings
Brooking rises in Labour’s list rankings
EditorialMarch 1

Bill of Rights gets some bite

On Monday, with little fanfare, the Government announced it intended to enact what may be the most profound law change of its term of office.
NationalApril 3

NZ no longer at Interpol cybercrime facility

New Zealand no longer has a presence at a major Interpol facility fighting cybercrime because of a lack of funding.
NZ no longer at Interpol cybercrime facility
NZ no longer at Interpol cybercrime facility