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.
Southern Say
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...
Many hands on deck to get dross out of Mataura
Many hands on deck to get dross out of Mataura
Speaking, as we were last week, of southerners wanting to see a speedy resolution to the many issues surrounding the future of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, the town of Mataura has the most...
Tiwai ‘just transition’ must move beyond talk
Tiwai ‘just transition’ must move beyond talk
As a rule, Labour finance ministers do not receive the warmest of welcomes from employers’ associations.
Wrangling ministry machinery a challenge
Wrangling ministry machinery a challenge
Dunedin North MP David Clark is far too magnanimous a man to indulge in schadenfreude, but the former Health Minister could be forgiven for cracking a wry smile after his successor's troubling week.
Our most unconventional election
Our most unconventional election
Even if this were a normal election University of Otago constitutional law specialist Andrew Geddis’ book Electoral Law in New Zealand: Practice and Policy would have been well-thumbed by politicians already.
Parting barbs urge change for media
Parting barbs urge change for media, elections
Dunedin South Labour MP Clare Curran has gone from Parliament and, as anticipated, she did not go quietly.
Greens determined in face of 5% threshold
Greens determined in face of 5% threshold
For the Green Party, the political ground zero this election might just be the corner of King Edward St and Hillside Rd.
Opinion: Passions intensify in stoush over tahr cull
Opinion: Passions intensify in stoush over tahr cull
Tekapo and protest march are not words which often go together, but the backblocks of the Mackenzie Country saw a significant outpouring of anger last Sunday.
Southern say: Resignations, retirements in crazy week
Southern say: Resignations, retirements in crazy week
The political merry go round continued to speed out of control this week, flinging another southern MP to the side in the process.
Rough week: another one bites the dust
Rough week: another one bites the dust
Another week, another southern MP steps down.
Dignified conclusion to fall from grace
Dignified conclusion to fall from grace
Thursday was meant to be a good day for David Clark.
NZ First candidate could be decisive
NZ First candidate could be decisive
The worst-kept secret in politics was finally confirmed this week, with the announcement that Mark Patterson will stand for New Zealand First in Taieri this election.
Lawmakers grapple with sharks, lasers
Lawmakers grapple with sharks, lasers
Politicians are often likened to sharks, but on Wednesday the actual animals had their time in the spotlight in Parliament as Invercargill MP Sarah Dowie’s member’s Bill to permit shark cage diving...
Bill’s semantics can affect industry a lot
Bill’s semantics can affect industry a lot
The law of unintended consequences is a given in most of life’s endeavours, but never more so than in politics.
Parties clash over mental health frameworks
Parties clash over mental health frameworks
"This is a happy occasion," Dunedin North MP David Clark trilled to the House, as the Health Minister steered the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Bill through its committee stages.
Clark’s actions could cost Dunedin dear
Clark’s actions could cost Dunedin dear
One of the sad truths of politics is that it is incredibly punishing on the families of MPs.
Southern Say: Epidemic committee proves its worth
Epidemic committee proves its worth
It's Parliament Jim, but not as we know it.
What kind of unity will parties show?
What kind of unity will parties show?
On Monday, as a hypothetical exercise, blogger David Farrar imagined who would be in a ‘‘Government of National Unity’’ created to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Govt’s green image to be grilled
Govt’s green image to be grilled
It will not be her grand reveal as National’s conservation spokeswoman, but Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean takes her first major step in her new portfolio this weekend at the party’s Blue Green forum, writes political reporter Mike Houlahan.