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The Penny Simmonds Experience ‘Death to Te Pukenga’ NZ tour
It has been a big week for National Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds as the work she, largely, got in to politics to do, well and truly got under way.
Southern Say
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The ins and outs of what is in, and out, of the Standards Bill
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The ins and outs of what is in, and out, of the Standards Bill
On Thursday, as Act New Zealand leader David Seymour was touring Dunedin, back in Wellington a somewhat surreal select committee process of keen interest to him was drawing to a close.
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Southern say: The Bill and the trees
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The Bill and the trees
Something which often surprises those whose only glimpse of Parliament is a few seconds on the TV news of MPs shouting at each other, is that most politicians actually get along fairly well.
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Simmonds out and about and talking trash in recess week
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Simmonds out and about and talking trash in recess week
As regular readers of Southern Say will know, this is a column which likes a cheap pun as much as the next hack.
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To infinity and beyond with a possum and sweet chilli sauce
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To infinity and beyond with a possum and sweet chilli sauce
One of the things MPs like most about the Budget debate is that it enables them to speak about almost anything so long as it can (sometimes very loosely) be linked back to the Budget.
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In it for the long haul
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In it for the long haul
If you like Parliament you well and truly had a treat last week, as the House sat until midnight Saturday under urgency to consider the wide range of legislation the government wanted to progress.
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Tikanga or not tikanga, that's the regulatory review question
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Tikanga or not tikanga, that's the regulatory review question
The regulations review committee is one of those select committees which does not get the recognition it deserves.
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Govt says do be hasty
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Govt says do be hasty
You may have had a bad week but it’s probably nothing compared with the week Dunedin Labour MP Rachel Brooking has had.
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The end is nigh/everything is great (delete as appropriate)
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The end is nigh/everything is great (delete as appropriate)
Finance Minister Nicola Willis experienced a white-knuckle ride yesterday, flying out of windy Wellington for the calmer climes of Dunedin.
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The ins and outs of building a desirable residence
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Debating the ins and outs of building a desirable residence
A Queenstown residence with lakefront views sounds amazing, but it’s not a happy lot for everyone.
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It turns out woolly thinking is something to be applauded
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It turns out woolly thinking is something to be applauded
Proof positive this week that individual voices can turn around the ocean liner that is Parliament.
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All the fun of this year’s Taxation (Annual Rates) extravaganza
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All the fun of this year’s Taxation (Annual Rates) extravaganza
Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose, as some of our more educated or veteran MPs may have contemplated this week as the Taxation Bill hoved into view.
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In the unlikely event of emergency call Chippie
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In the unlikely event of emergency call Chippie
This might seem a bit unlikely, but bear with me . . . Labour could be feeling a trifle worried about its impregnable grasp on Dunedin.
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This is not a dream, you really are acting transport minister
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This is not a dream, you really are acting transport minister
It sounds like the stuff of nightmares ... you go to work having mentally planned how your day will go, but then you find out that you are doing another job entirely.
Peace breaks out as MPs debate dairy and the environment
Peace breaks out as MPs debate dairy and the environment
Working together is always easier than pulling in opposite directions.
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Monday night political football proves to be a ratings winner
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Monday night political football proves to be a ratings winner
There are any number of ways you can measure how popular a political party is, polling being the obvious one.
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Blithe spirits, the cavalry, and filling every minute of the day
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Blithe spirits, the cavalry, and filling every minute of the day
Sometimes, being an MP requires you to behave in a manner as if you are blissfully unaware of what is happening in the outside world.
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Shane Jo-Jo sings Get Back as Parliament tunes up again
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Shane Jo-Jo sings Get Back as Parliament tunes up again
Parliament began for a new year on Tuesday with a show of unanimity, MPs from across the House joining in paying tribute to Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming and the late Te Pāti Māori co-founder Dame Tariana Turia.
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The first step of a long and arduous journey
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The first step of a long and arduous journey
For most politicians the year has just begun with the traditional three Rs — reshuffles, retreats and Rātana.
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Getting together to address the great offshore wind gap
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Getting together to address the great offshore wind gap
There are not many occasions when Energy Minister Simeon Brown and Green Taieri list MP Scott Willis agree on an infrastructure policy.