SUBSCRIBER
Bill greeted with both glee and dismay
SUBSCRIBER
Bill greeted with both glee and dismay
It would be fair to say that most MPs were very tired last Thursday, as the final pieces of the government’s 100-day action plan slumped into place.
Southern Say
SUBSCRIBER
Radich’s ‘love letter’ fires up Labour MPs
SUBSCRIBER
Radich’s ‘love letter’ fires up Labour MPs
The late, great former St Kilda MP Michael Cullen was noted for his wit and oratorical skill, but every so often his rhetoric dropped below his normally impeccably high standards.
SUBSCRIBER
Robertson to walk fine line in new uni role
SUBSCRIBER
Robertson to walk fine line in new uni role
Grant Robertson likes a challenge, and few are much harder than the one he is about to face, turning around the University of Otago, an institution seemingly ploughing head-first towards a field of...
SUBSCRIBER
Latest bit of politics very close to home
SUBSCRIBER
Latest bit of politics very close to home
It does not get much more local for us at the Otago Daily Times than the business before Parliament’s economic development, science and innovation select committee this week.
SUBSCRIBER
Testing the boundaries of electoral review
SUBSCRIBER
Testing the boundaries of electoral review
A fortnight ago, rather overshadowed by the ruckus surrounding and then resignation of former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman, the final report of the Independent Electoral Review was released.
SUBSCRIBER
New minister needs to start walking the talk on mental health
SUBSCRIBER
New minister needs to start walking the talk on mental health
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey recently threw his weight behind efforts to restore international air travel to Dunedin. But as NZ's first ever Minister of Mental Health, he may leave an even larger imprint.
SUBSCRIBER
Year of surprising resignations, change draws to a close
SUBSCRIBER
Year of surprising resignations, change draws to a close
Even though every political year seems like a long one — and election years doubly so — 2023 in politics seems to have gone on and on forever.
SUBSCRIBER
Southern MPs in local derby on water policy
SUBSCRIBER
Southern MPs in local derby on water policy
It is Tuesday afternoon and all fans of Parliament are tuning in to watch Question Time.
SUBSCRIBER
Southern MPs in select committee musical chairs
SUBSCRIBER
Southern MPs in select committee musical chairs
If you cannot make it into Cabinet, there is always the chance that you might score a portfolio outside of Cabinet, or a parliamentary under-secretary’s role.
SUBSCRIBER
NZ First’s Patterson in his roles for good reason
SUBSCRIBER
NZ First’s Patterson in his roles for good reason
Nestled down near the bottom of the ministerial list on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website sits, almost last but certainly not least, Taieri NZ First list MP Mark Patterson.
SUBSCRIBER
Local representation lack in Parliament concerning
SUBSCRIBER
Local representation lack in Parliament concerning
Parliament is not actually back at work yet, but its constituent parties have now at last worked out where their MPs will be sitting and what jobs they will be doing.
SUBSCRIBER
Forming govt: ‘Complainers need to get a grip’
SUBSCRIBER
Forming govt: ‘Complainers need to get a grip’
Earlier this week a reader emailed to ask what the enthusiastic proponents of electoral reform in the 1980s and ’90s made of the seemingly interminable delay in restoring politics as normal.
SUBSCRIBER
Legislation facing reconsideration by new govt
SUBSCRIBER
Legislation facing reconsideration by new govt
A fortnight ago, before illness laid me low, I suggested that readers had the advantage over me in that a new government might have formed after I had filed that week’s "Southern Say".
SUBSCRIBER
Turnout in the South down across board
SUBSCRIBER
Turnout in the South down across board
Now that the dust has settled a little, what lessons can we in the South learn from Election 2023?
SUBSCRIBER
Greens visit to rally the troops, National not so much
SUBSCRIBER
Greens visit to rally the troops, National not so much
As the election campaign enters the home stretch, the non marginal seats of Dunedin are not a magnet to most political party leaders — on that, more shortly.
SUBSCRIBER
Small halls central to Act’s campaign
SUBSCRIBER
Small halls central to Act’s campaign
There are many reasons why Act has its best asset in the Lake Wānaka Centre in prime time, rather than strutting the stage somewhere more populous.
Te Tai Tonga candidates join televised debate
Te Tai Tonga candidates join televised debate
‘Tis the season for election debates, with podiums and politicians springing up all over the place.
SUBSCRIBER
Little cars fire up Luxon’s personality
SUBSCRIBER
Little cars fire up Luxon’s personality
One of the biggest hurdles politicians have to clear is the mysterious, undefinable quality of likeability.
SUBSCRIBER
Points scored by all in important debate
SUBSCRIBER
Points scored by all in important debate
Political debates are a mixed breed.
SUBSCRIBER
Southern say: Gutsy showing on campaign trail
SUBSCRIBER
Gutsy showing on campaign trail
OPINION: As symbolism goes, the start of Prime Minister Chris Hipkins’ day in Dunedin did not bode well.