SUBSCRIBER
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.
Southern Say
SUBSCRIBER
MPs respond to prime minister’s vision for the year ahead
SUBSCRIBER
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.
SUBSCRIBER
Those getting stuff done, or needing to get more stuff done
SUBSCRIBER
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.
SUBSCRIBER
You need to help the aged, ’cause one day you’ll be older too
SUBSCRIBER
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.
SUBSCRIBER
Arming up for emergency legislation and lengthy urgency
SUBSCRIBER
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.
SUBSCRIBER
The griller gets grilled under the health committee’s scrutiny
SUBSCRIBER
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.
SUBSCRIBER
Seeking a unified approach to making the golden years glow
SUBSCRIBER
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.
SUBSCRIBER
Compounding interest in select committees banking inquiry
SUBSCRIBER
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.
SUBSCRIBER
Summoning up the energy to be enthusiastic about wool
SUBSCRIBER
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.
SUBSCRIBER
Hard work being sorry
SUBSCRIBER
Hard work being sorry
As a trained lawyer, Joseph Mooney will be well familiar with the legal adage "hard cases make bad law".
SUBSCRIBER
Thank you very much, thank you very very very very much
SUBSCRIBER
Thank you very much, thank you very very very very much
Back in 1942, Greer Garson won the Best Actress Academy Award for her work in Mrs Miniver.
SUBSCRIBER
Being popular does not make it right when it comes to a vote
SUBSCRIBER
Being popular does not make it right when it comes to a vote
Parliament is on holiday now, but that does not mean politics has stopped.
SUBSCRIBER
Saving the rights of teenage workers, one petition at a time
SUBSCRIBER
Saving the rights of teenage workers, one petition at a time
For this week only Southern Say is venturing over the border from the South — but not so very far away — for an inspiring tale
SUBSCRIBER
The custom of dragging a debate out as long as possible
SUBSCRIBER
The custom of dragging a debate out as long as possible
It is the nature of Parliament that sometimes things which matter not one jot, and which everyone pretty much actually agrees on, take up an enormous amount of the House’s time.
SUBSCRIBER
Going round and round the circular economy mulberry bush
SUBSCRIBER
Going round and round the circular economy mulberry bush
For most of this week the House has been occupied with the Estimates Debate, the annual run through with ministers about their various portfolios.
SUBSCRIBER
The pointless exercise which might actually mean something
SUBSCRIBER
The pointless exercise which might actually mean something
At the end of a long recess with no Parliament what is one to do when there is no House of Representatives to watch but to go to the ‘‘Clayton’s’’ Parliament - the Parliament you have when you are...
SUBSCRIBER
Still fighting, in the electorate and the supermarket aisles
SUBSCRIBER
Still fighting, in the electorate and the supermarket aisles
As you may have noted earlier in today’s newspaper Dunedin is now blessed to have another local MP.
SUBSCRIBER
Watching via video link as Stephenson dices with danger
SUBSCRIBER
Watching via video link as Stephenson dices with danger
Todd Stephenson doesn’t really strike one as being danger adjacent, even if the Act New Zealand Southland list MP does live in the adrenaline sports capital of the world.
SUBSCRIBER
MPs, MPs everywhere and many a vote to seek
SUBSCRIBER
MPs, MPs everywhere and many a vote to seek
If you didn’t see a Labour MP this week you weren’t looking hard.
SUBSCRIBER
Space Bill debate: I think it’s gonna be a long, long time
SUBSCRIBER
Space Bill debate: I think it’s gonna be a long, long time
Rachel Brooking gets plenty of time speaking in the House on her main portfolio responsibilities.