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.
Southern Say
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.
Clark takes credit for getting reform rolling
Clark takes credit for getting reform rolling
Wednesday must have been a day of mixed feelings for David Clark.
Otago connections in Bill of Rights debate
Otago connections in Bill of Rights debate
On Wednesday afternoon, while MPs were upstairs making law, downstairs in committee room 3, some of their colleagues were contemplating a profound change to how those laws are made.
New National MP tells his rags-to-riches tale
New National MP tells his rags-to-riches tale
Just as circumstances prevented National’s newly-elected MPs from making their maiden speeches when they intended, Southern Say’s plans to look at those orations last week fell by the wayside.
Southern say: Hospital issues taken up in debate
Ambulance, hospital issues taken up in debate
Parliament broke fresh ground with its first "local issues" debate this week, offering MPs the chance to speak but, crucially, they need to focus on a matter of local rather than national importance.
Woodhouse’s attack role keeps him on the move
Woodhouse’s attack role keeps him on the move
As a member of the parliamentary rugby team, Michael Woodhouse keeps relatively fit, which is just as well given his punishing schedule on Wednesday morning this week.
Healthy debate proof parties can work together
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.
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".