Healthy debate proof parties can work together
It did not take long for Covid-19 to make its malign presence felt in the political debate of 2021, as the reappearance of the pandemic disease in the community dominated proceedings this week.
Southern Say
Petitions get a dedicated committee
Petitions get a dedicated committee
Cynics have been known to scoff that the go-to solution for a politician faced with a problem is to form a committee.
It is not easy being green, for any party
It is not easy being green, for any party
Last Sunday, with much fanfare, the independent Climate Change Commission released its draft advice to the Government about what it — and by extension all New Zealanders — need to do to meet the...
Southern say: Political machine (slowly) stirs back to life
Southern say: Political machine (slowly) stirs back to life
Politics is something that has largely happened elsewhere for the previous five weeks, something for which we should all probably be very grateful.
What a wild ride the year has been
What a wild ride the year has been
Back in 2010, to mark its 50th anniversary and to shake up its cast, Coronation Street’s writers scripted an explosion and tram crash which took out two prominent characters.
Urgency deals with pills and Bills
Urgency deals with pills and Bills
Over the Christmas break, Wanaka will host the hugely popular Rhythm and Alps music festival.
Privacy law refreshed to reflect the times
Privacy law refreshed to reflect the times
Privacy Commissioner John Edwards was in our patch this week, briefing institutions and individuals on far-reaching law changes about to take effect in his patch.
Woodhouse back in key role in shrunken caucus
Woodhouse back in key role in shrunken caucus
Given the rollercoaster ride he has been on this year, it is unlikely Dunedin-based National Party list MP Michael Woodhouse will remember 2020 fondly.
Clark out of purgatory for a second chance
Clark out of purgatory for a second chance
As a doctor of theology, Dunedin MP David Clark will be very familiar with the phrase "to err is human, to forgive is divine".
Decisions for Dunedin’s new Labour list MP
Decisions for Dunedin’s new Labour list MP
Labour Dunedin list MP Rachel Brooking is still learning to navigate her way through the myriad corridors of the Parliamentary complex, let alone the tangles of the Parliamentary process.
Act NZ propelled into new realms
Act NZ propelled into new realms
Tuesday's report in the Otago Daily Times that Act New Zealand was considering setting up a southern base following its record party vote return in the 2020 election was, predictably, greeted with...
Wealth-tax attack could well persuade some
Wealth-tax attack could well persuade some
SOUTHERN SAY: Tonight TVNZ hosts the final leader’s debate between Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins - a contest of wits in which the participants will have very different agendas.
Southern Say: Finish line finally within sight
The finish line is finally within sight
As Monday dawned, the opening notes of The Final Countdown came to mind.
Visiting National leader not on a roll
Visiting National leader not on a roll
Judith Collins had one publicly expressed mission on her Dunedin visit this week - to win Taieri for National.
City saturated with preening politicians
City saturated with preening politicians
Dunedin has often felt neglected by politicians, but it can't make that complaint this week. In fact, the city is pretty much the centre of the political universe at the minute.
National pitches policy at both home owners and landlords
National pitches policy at both home owners and landlords
Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean has been relatively low-key in her housing portfolio — barring an embarrassing slip-up concerning state housing numbers on live TV — but that changed yesterday with the...
Southern electorate seats hotly contested
Southern electorate seats hotly contested
Although under MMP it is, generally, really only the party vote that matters, that does not mean that parties do not want to win electorate seats.
Seymour finds plenty of support
Seymour finds plenty of support
Queenstown is right in the middle of one of the safest National electorates in the country, and few political leaders find their way there during campaign season.
Southern say: When does political art become an ad?
Southern say: When does political art become an ad?
The law governing elections is absolutely riven with inconsistencies, implausibilities and impracticalities, as anyone who has had to grapple with the Electoral Act 1993 can tell you.
Party vote’s allure draws hopefuls south
Party vote’s allure draws hopefuls south
Back in the first-past-the-post era, campaigning politicians could have been forgiven for bypassing the southern seats — for several of those electorates it was literally a one-in-100 year event if...