Southern Say

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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

Southland National MP Joseph Mooney. File photo: Tracey Roxburgh

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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

An off-shore windfarm. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

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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.

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Going slowly along the fast track legislation

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Going slowly along the fast track legislation

Rachel Brooking was somewhere between heaven and hell this week.

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Seeking precision and finding equivocation

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Seeking precision and finding equivocation

There are few things more appealing than some time spent talking about health sector infrastructure and investment.

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Southern Say: In the red corner

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In the red corner

There have been many great parliamentary rivalries over the years ... Muldoon vs Lange, Clark vs Brash, Michael Cullen vs anybody.

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Abandon the razor, and the dangling ETS sword

The house of representatives. PHOTO: ODT FILES

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Abandon the razor, and the dangling ETS sword

A minor change or a surrender in the fight against climate change: take your pick on what the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme Agricultural Obligations) Amendment Bill actually does.

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Looking forward to confronting the past

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Looking forward to confronting the past

With due respect to the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill — let alone the Contracts of Insurance Bill and Contracts of Insurance (Repeals and Amendments) Bill — the biggest show at...

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You won’t see nothing like the mighty Cliff

Cliff the ambulance before its trip to Wellington. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH

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Come all within, you won’t see nothing like the mighty Cliff

Parliamentary security is not overly fond of seeing vehicles on the forecourt - it still has nightmares about former National MP Shane Ardern driving Myrtle the tractor up the stairs in 2003.

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Walking the path to a bright tomorrow, or not

Rebecca Young confronts Mr Luxon at Dunedin Airport. PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIEN

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Walking the path to a bright tomorrow, or not

Fourteen months.

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Trying to remain as angry as possible for another two years

Thousands turned out to protest cuts to the new Dunedin hospital. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY

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Trying to remain as angry as possible for another two years

Yes, the turnout for the Dunedin Hospital protest march was very impressive indeed.

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Getting a good workout during the environment estimates

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Getting a good workout during the environment estimates

Due to circumstances beyond the government’s control much of this year’s Estimates Debate was crammed into this week.

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An emotional reminder that what Parliament does matters

Parliament Buildings, from left, Bowen House, the Beehive, and Parliament House. PHOTO: NZ HERALD

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An emotional reminder that what Parliament does matters

Despite the aspersions of some that the legislation which Parliament passes is not actually that important, it really, really is.

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How much do we care about right to repair?

Green party co-leader Marama Davidson. PHOTO: RNZ

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How much do we care about right to repair?

I do not know what cobweb-bedecked appliances the junkroom, shed or basement in your house contains, but in various places in the Southern Say household can be found PCs, laptops, juicers...

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The gun guy and the gun girl agree to disagree on reform

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The gun guy and the gun girl agree to disagree on reform

Assuming that there is such a stereotypical thing as a "gun guy", Green Taieri list MP Scott Willis would not be it.

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Ministers and backbenchers alike hunt game in the House

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Ministers and backbenchers alike hunt game in the House

To reverse a famous observation by Oscar Wilde, there is only one thing in life worse than not being talked about, and that is being talked about.

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Brooking battles through the watery preliminary round

Dunedin Labour MP Rachel Brooking let out all her frustrations when addressing Parliament about...

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Brooking battles through the watery preliminary round

Preliminary, according to the pocket dictionary I’ve carried everywhere since the 1980s, means something preceding or preparing for the main act.

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Pinning the tail on the Act NZ donkey

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Pinning the tail on the Act NZ donkey

Act New Zealand Southland list MP Todd Stephenson is no-one’s idea of a wild-eyed, rabble-rousing rebel, but he unexpectedly found himself at the forefront of a mini revolt against Speaker Gerry...

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‘Dark shadow’: historic day must lead to historic actions

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks to abuse survivors in Parliament. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

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‘Dark shadow’: historic day must lead to historic actions

It's not often the House is close to full late on a Wednesday afternoon, and even rarer that all MPs sit through all 12 speeches of a debate. But the debate on the final report of the abuse in care inquiry was something different.

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