Report cards for Southern MPs
There are many things by which the success, or otherwise, of a Member of Parliament can be measured, but the fundamental one is whether they are still an MP at the end of the year, or not.
Southern Say
MPs set to grapple with Plant Variety Rights Bill
MPs set to grapple with Plant Variety Rights Bill
A busy last sitting week in the House did not overly tax our southern MPs, but a quick glance at the final order paper of the year suggests 2022 will begin with a hiss and a roar for Dr David Clark.
Brooking in her element in housing Bill process
Brooking in her element in housing Bill process
Parliament has been in a state of high excitement in recent weeks, as leaders got rolled, replaced, and then recalibrated their party line-ups.
Southern Say: Act hopes party bus will solidify support
Southern Say: Act hopes party bus will solidify support
Act New Zealand brings its campaign bus to town this week, although whether it will transport the public is an as yet unanswered question.
Dean’s role in a drama she did not ask for
Dean’s role in a drama she did not ask for
Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean had a busy Wednesday evening, chairing the House of Representatives as it debated Covid-19 taxation legislation.
Law gets an update, pandemic marches on
Law gets an update, pandemic marches on
Covid-19 is coming to a town near you has been the sad theme of this week, and it would be fair to say Southern MPs are not best pleased about that.
Statistics framework, meet the 21st century
Statistics framework, meet the 21st century
Wednesday was Dunedin Labour MP Dr David Clark’s day of jubilee, as the Data and Statistics Bill finally made it to the top of the order paper.
Simmonds still fighting her education battle
Simmonds still fighting her education battle
If you wrong us shall we not revenge, Shakespeare asked in The Merchant Of Venice.
South Island’s plight: the pressure is on
South Island’s plight: the pressure is on
1, 2. 1, 2. 1, 1, 2, 2. 1, 2. No, not a sound check prior to a concert - it's the sound of National, Labour and Act NZ squabbling about what Covid-19 alert level the South Island should be at.
Proving who we are is key to return to ‘normal’
Proving who we are is key to return to ‘normal’
It turns out, according to a recently released Cabinet paper, that every one has the right to participate in the ‘‘digital identity ecosystem’’.
Matariki public holiday looks ever more likely
Matariki public holiday looks ever more likely
Pencil in June 24 in your 2022 diary. We are — probably — going on holiday.
Southern say: The pandemic’s risks are not spread equally
Southern say: The pandemic’s risks are not spread equally
This week politics has been brought to you by the number 45 ... that being how many community cases of Covid-19 were discovered in Auckland on Wednesday.
Simmonds shows she is finding her feet
Simmonds shows she is finding her feet
For many MPs, Tuesday was their first time back at Parliament for several weeks.
Chathams conundrum keeps legislators busy
Chathams conundrum keeps legislators busy
While Covid-19 has seen the legislative work of Parliament largely fall by the wayside, select committees have still been hard at work, both via Zoom meetings and through drafting of reports.
Southern say: Diverse concerns heard by MPs in lockdown
Southern say: Diverse concerns heard by MPs in lockdown
The South returned to Covid-19 Alert Level 2 this week, and with it life for our MPs returned to something a little closer to normality.
Woodhouse makes trip to be far South’s only MP at Delta Parliament
Woodhouse makes trip to be far South’s only MP at Delta Parliament
There is no set formula for deciding which of our local MPs feature in Southern Say each week.
Lockdown for Clark less fraught this time
Lockdown for Clark less fraught this time
As the saying has it, what goes around comes around.
Southern say: Another battle about land ahead
Southern say: Another battle about land ahead
Back on August 12, 2021 BD (before Delta), when Parliament rose for what was meant to be an uneventful recess week, MPs had just started the second reading debate on the Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill.
The win for Mataura is a win for everyone
The win for Mataura is a win for everyone
On Tuesday, Parliament’s environment select committee reported back on the petition of Mark Patterson to remove aluminium dross from the Mataura paper mill.
Tracing steps in fight against child poverty
Tracing steps in fight against child poverty
Liz Craig painted misty watercolour memories of the way we were in the House on Wednesday, as she looked back on moments she will never forget from her parliamentary career.