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
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.
Southern say: Crunch time nears in battle of the Jameses
Southern say: Crunch time nears in battle of the Jameses
The Green Party constitution requires it to engage in "nonviolent conflict resolution as the process by which ecological wisdom, social responsibility, and appropriate decision making will be...
Students’ wellbeing at centre of new code
Students’ wellbeing at centre of new code
Last Friday, with whatever fanfare it might have received drowned out by the Howl of a Protest farmers rally, the Government released a new code of practice for the pastoral care of tertiary and...
Labour cannot afford to ignore rural concerns
Labour cannot afford to ignore rural concerns
For something set up as an apolitical organisation, farmer advocacy group Groundswell is having a heck of a political impact.
Southern say: No shortage of scrutiny for audit extensions
Southern say: No shortage of scrutiny for audit extensions
Fellow citizens, be warned, we are in a time of crisis: New Zealand is suffering a severe shortage of auditors.
Fake urine Bill stalls, but issue will surely be back
Fake urine Bill stalls, but issue will surely be back
If you have ever ventured the opinion that our politicians are taking the piss, Parliament gave you ample opportunity to repeat that claim on Wednesday.
Worry about fingers in monetary policy pie
Worry about fingers in monetary policy pie
Late on Tuesday evening, just before the country got completely distracted by the rude reappearance of Covid-19 on its radar screen, Parliament took another step towards reimagining how the Reserve...
Southern Say: Flock of Greens flying regularly to Dunedin
Southern Say: Flock of Greens flying regularly to Dunedin
Green MPs Elizabeth Kerekere and Eugenie Sage are in Dunedin tomorrow hosting a public meeting on housing. They aren't the first representatives to pop down in recent times - and they're not going to be the last, writes Mike Houlahan.
It is time to brace for fluoridation anger
It is time to brace for fluoridation anger
Columnists like to give the impression of being oracles, but it does not take prophetic powers to figure out what is going to happen after this week’s effort rolls off the presses.
Old Bills linger on, waiting for their time
Old Bills linger on, waiting for their time
There are some Bills which just sit around Parliament for years and years, jammed up in the process but moving no further forward.
Southern say: Q'town in focus as PMs pay visit
Queenstown in focus as PMs pay a visit
This weekend, Queenstown will be the centre of our political universe.
Grief, drive for change taken to committee
Grief, drive for change taken to committee
In the past few years, Dunedin woman Corinda Taylor had learned much more about the legal system than she ever wanted to.
Southern Say: Thorny debate keeps Dean’s hands full
Southern Say: Thorny debate keeps Dean’s hands full
Speaker Trevor Mallard has instituted a new policy in recent weeks, where each day one of his assistant Speakers reads the prayer which starts the proceedings of Parliament.
Accounting for climate brings rivals together
Accounting for climate brings rivals together
Politically, David Clark and Michael Woodhouse do not have that much in common.