Right to free expression can be fraught
Be it an exchange of ideas or preaching to the converted, the Free Speech Union is entitled to provide a forum for people to speak their minds, writes Mike Houlahan.
Southern Say
Accessibility Bill: will it make a big difference?
Accessibility Bill: will it make a big difference?
On Tuesday Parliament took an important step towards lowering barriers and guaranteeing equality for all ... or not, take your pick.
Young voices speak up for the Waiau
Young voices speak up for the Waiau
There seems to be a steady stream of southern youngsters making their views known to Parliament.
Not just MPs who help shape our laws
Not just MPs who help shape our laws
Our politicians have been taking a break from making the law over the long winter recess, but that doesn't mean that lawmaking stops.
Politics students get a chance to grill MPs
Politics students get a chance to grill MPs
On a wet Wednesday in Dunedin, some red-hot politics sounded like just the thing to warm oneself up.
Hawea Flat is ticked off, and not quiet about it
Hawea Flat is ticked off, and not quiet about it
The Government and its ministries spends their days making decisions of national importance, but those decisions have local ramifications.
Southern say: Electoral rhetoric has truly begun
Southern say: Electoral rhetoric has truly begun
Listeners who tuned in to Morning Report on Wednesday for the show’s weekly interview with National leader Christopher Luxon would've heard Corin Dann musing, to little demurral from Luxon, there were few policy differences between the two main parties.
Criticism as support worker pay Bill passed
Criticism as support worker pay Bill passed
Parliament had one of those rare situations on Wednesday when almost every MP voted in favour of a Bill, but almost all of them were unhappy about it.
Party planning at provincial AGM
Party planning at provincial AGM
Last weekend’s Green Party Deep South provincial annual general meeting certainly gave special guest, list MP Teanau Tuiono (pictured), a taste of the region.
David takes on the supermarket Goliaths
David takes on the supermarket Goliaths
Dunedin's very own David, Commerce Minister Dr David Clark, does not much look like the fighting type.
Showtime for Mooney’s lucky hand-me-down Bill
Showtime for Mooney’s lucky hand-me-down Bill
As Southland National MP Joseph Mooney will likely find out on Wednesday, having everyone in Parliament agreeing that there is a problem is no guarantee that anyone is going to be interested in...
Southern businesses share the stateside spotlight
Southern businesses share the stateside spotlight
As you may have heard tell, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is in the United States this week, delivering the Harvard University commencement speech and — at the last possible moment — securing a sit...
Southern say: Mr Taylor goes to Wellington, with mixed results
Southern say: Mr Taylor goes to Wellington, with mixed results
In the 1939 film classic, Mr Smith returns disillusioned after he goes to Washington, but Dunedin man Terry Taylor had a more rewarding experience when he visited this country’s capital.
Time for Craig to make her mark in health arena
Time for Craig to make her mark in health arena
There have been many mysterious things about Labour’s response to Covid-19.
Seymour to see how messages resonate in South
Seymour to see how messages resonate in South
Ever since Covid-19 border regulations eased, a plethora of major tours have been announced.
Long-awaited debate puts fees in spotlight
Long-awaited debate puts fees in spotlight
As has been mentioned a few times before in Southern Say, it can sometimes take the Government a wee while to getting around to doing things.
National looking to win back southern votes
National looking to win back southern votes
As the former chief executive of an airline, National leader Christopher Luxon knows the value of frequent flyer miles.
Reboot of future disaster coverage
Reboot of future disaster coverage
Few will forget the events of September 4, 2010, and no-one will forget February 22 the following year: the Canterbury earthquakes.
MPs have not been immune to catching Covid as it sweeps the South
MPs have not been immune to catching Covid as it sweeps the South
Whatever you might say about Covid-19, and I’m sure you could say plenty, at least it does not discriminate.
PM’s message: Snow me the money and tourists
PM’s message: Snow me the money and tourists
Anyone who saw Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern when she was in Dunedin last week would have thought to themselves, "that’s a person who needs a holiday".