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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.
Southern Say
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Southern say: Embracing opportunities
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Embracing opportunities
It is a cliche that Dunedin matters little in the national political scheme of things: its seats are reliably red.
Ardern, Robertson reunion a crowd-pleaser
Ardern, Robertson reunion a crowd-pleaser
The reunion of the leaders of the last Labour government in Dunedin last night was like watching a reunion gig by one of your favourite bands.
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Tilting at electoral windmills as the Alliance gallops again
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Tilting at electoral windmills as the Alliance gallops again
The South has plenty of MPs — nine all up, across five parties — but no party leaders and only two ministers.
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Take a trip north to Auckland — good luck finding a house
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Take a trip north to Auckland — good luck finding a house
Southern Say is, deliberately and unapologetically, a column which focuses on the exploits of MPs from south of the Waitaki and political activity in our region.
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Parliament tries to find homes for friends of Lily and Zoi
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Parliament tries to find homes for friends of Lily and Zoi
Parliament is many things to many people but this week it broke new ground by setting up in the pet rehousing business.
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Critters, fresh water and the endless growth agenda
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Critters, fresh water and the endless growth agenda
Parliament was in recess this week but the last few days have been anything but a break for members of the environment select committee.
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Taking a gamble and the law of unintended consequences
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Taking a gamble and the law of unintended consequences
The thing about politics, to borrow a cliche, is that you pay your money and you take your chances.
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For Willis, the govt’s LNG terminal proposal is a gas, gas, gas
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For Willis, the govt’s LNG terminal proposal is a gas, gas, gas
In Parliament, much like life itself, things move swiftly. The burning issue of the day can flame out in a matter of hours, let alone last an actual 24 hour news cycle.
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Conscience matters on booze sales
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Conscience matters on booze sales
It is not often that Miles Anderson and Rachel Brooking vote the same way on something. Or Scott Willis and Penny Simmonds for that matter.
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Invercargill MP poised to legislate herself out of existence
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Invercargill MP poised to legislate herself out of existence
Something many people do not know about the building which includes Parliament’s debating chamber is that there is another similar chamber just behind it.
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Racing this time in two contentious high-stakes handicaps
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Racing this time in two contentious high-stakes handicaps
Monday morning is early in the week for an existential crisis, but that was what Parliament’s primary production select committee had on its schedule.
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MPs respond to prime minister’s vision for the year ahead
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MPs respond to prime minister’s vision for the year ahead
Parliament is back, an election date set and everyone’s motors are up and running for a big year ahead.
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Those getting stuff done, or needing to get more stuff done
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Those getting stuff done, or needing to get more stuff done
Although everyone else does "Politician of the year", at Southern Say we eschew such tawdry baubles.
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You need to help the aged, ’cause one day you’ll be older too
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You need to help the aged, ’cause one day you’ll be older too
"Help the aged, don’t just put them in a home," Britpop band Pulp sang in one of their more unusual singles, Help The Aged.
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Arming up for emergency legislation and lengthy urgency
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Arming up for emergency legislation and lengthy urgency
To the surprise of absolutely no-one, Parliament once more adopted urgency this week as the government pressed to get a plethora of Bills progressed before Christmas.
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The griller gets grilled under the health committee’s scrutiny
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The griller gets grilled under the health committee’s scrutiny
This past week has been Scrutiny Week at Parliament, where the actions of ministers and ministries are put under under the spotlight during a series of committee hearings.
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Seeking a unified approach to making the golden years glow
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Seeking a unified approach to making the golden years glow
The hurly-burly of politics seldom intrudes on the quiet halls of Bupa Windsor Park Care Home in Gore.
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Compounding interest in select committees banking inquiry
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Compounding interest in select committees banking inquiry
Yes, it has been a big few days at Parliament, what with MPs being expelled and a major corruption scandal at New Zealand Police.
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Summoning up the energy to be enthusiastic about wool
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Summoning up the energy to be enthusiastic about wool
As has been noted in this column before, New Zealand First Taieri list MP Mark Patterson likes wool.