Brooking’s fishing gig far from easy
Brooking’s fishing gig far from easy
If you are a newly-appointed minister, what you crave is something nice and simple to do early doors.
Southern Say
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Southern candidates’ struggles
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Southern candidates’ struggles
It has not been a good few days for parties other than Labour hoping to elect MPs from the southern region to Parliament.
Sad ironies as patient’s advocacy lives on
Sad ironies as patient’s advocacy lives on
Parliament does not usually set out to be deliberately ironic, but often the way its processes work mean that it inadvertently gives one cause to shake one’s head.
Triumph and tragedy spurs proposal
Triumph and tragedy spurs proposal
Everyone loves a sporting triumph — a Black Ferns World Cup, Wānaka young people winning Winter Olympic gold medals, an Otago woman topping the motorcycling world.
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Week of House firsts for southern MPs
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Week of House firsts for southern MPs
It was a week of firsts in Parliament for our southern MPs: Rino Tirikatene passed his first Bill as a minister and Joseph Mooney asked his first primary at Question Time.
DHB back from the dead for last huzzah
DHB back from the dead for last huzzah
It is Easter, approximately, the time when the resurrection is marked, so it seems a fitting time for district health boards to make a comeback from the dead.
MP’s time in House rained on by Nash
MP’s time in House rained on by Nash
Wednesday was meant to be Dunedin Labour list MP Rachel Brooking’s day in the sun.
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Locals give their views on PM’s statement
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Locals give their views on PM’s statement
The rolling maul of political punch and counterpunch that is the debate on the Prime Minister’s statement was brought to a halt on Wednesday, and southern MPs were at the front as it staggered...
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Forestry needs questioning, like all land use
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Forestry needs questioning, like all land use
With the greatest of respect to the multibillion-dollar timber industry, it would be fair to say that not many people’s first inclination when a political party announces a portfolio reshuffle is...
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Top has clear strategy for southern seats
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Top has clear strategy for southern seats
So, there we were, all agog at the prospect of Parliament being back after a two-month absence — go on, I know you were — when Cyclone Gabrielle derailed everyone’s thinking.
Reshuffles take a back seat to Hipkins’ big clean-out
Reshuffles take a back seat to Hipkins’ big clean-out
As you may recall, Labour and National did some cleaning over the summer break and neatly rearranged their front benches for the new parliamentary year.
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Clark pushes grocery industry Bill, shows health minister hospital site
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Clark pushes grocery industry Bill, shows health minister hospital site
There are plenty of moments in politics which seem like exercises in futility, and Monday morning served up another one.
What of southern MPs after Ardern and reshuffle?
What of southern MPs after Ardern and reshuffle?
January is usually a sleepy month in New Zealand politics, when very little happens and topical columns take a break due to there being, well, very few topics to discuss.
Dunedin hospital bed cut farce funny if it wasn’t so serious
Dunedin hospital bed cut farce funny if it wasn’t so serious
Three weeks ago Southern Say suggested that the new Dunedin hospital was the dominant southern political issue at the moment.
Clark yet to escape brave new water world
Clark yet to escape brave new water world
SOUTHERN SAY: Dunedin Labour MP David Clark has decided to finish with politics, but politics is yet to finish with him.
Off to the races for booze amendment
Off to the races for booze amendment
There is a racing term, the off-course substitute, which refers to the horse you end up backing in a bet such as a double or treble if your horse is late scratched.
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Hospital form still case of watch this space
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Hospital form still case of watch this space
Sitting in the Otago Daily Times newsroom you do not have to look far to see the biggest political issue in Dunedin right now.
Simmonds’ polytechnic offensive not going away
Simmonds’ polytechnic offensive not going away
SOUTHERN SAY: There's an old song in Sesame Street about one of these things being not like the other.
MPs acting locally and thinking globally
MPs acting locally and thinking globally
Right up until a stray missile distracted everyone, the attention of world leaders was focused on Egypt and the ongoing COP27 summit.
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Question puts new speaker through his paces
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Question puts new speaker through his paces
Adrian Rurawhe has only been in the Speaker’s chair for a few weeks but on Thursday he faced his toughest challenge to date, and from an unlikely source at that.