Mike Houlahan

New Zealand

Health Reporter at Otago Daily Times

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Articles

In it for the long haul

1 week ago | odt.co.nz | Mike Houlahan

You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. OpinionIf 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. Some of the matters considered under extended hours were entirely reasonable — every government needs to push through Budget-relevant law changes as soon as possible. Some matters, not so much . . .
Simmonds taking charge as Te Pukenga gets whacked

2 weeks ago | odt.co.nz | Mike Houlahan

You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. OpinionVendetta is the Italian word for "revenge", and it was used quite a lot by Labour in the House on Tuesday. No, not because its MPs were complaining about the National Party’s views of Te Pati Maori (which they were), but because they were complaining about that well-known political mafiosi, Invercargill National MP Penny Simmonds.
Trump’s tariff flames lick at incentives

2 weeks ago | odt.co.nz | Mike Houlahan

You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. NewsNationalYou will not see the name Donald Trump anywhere in the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update, but the United States president looms large over the financial predictions contained within.
Firms given get-fit regime

2 weeks ago | odt.co.nz | Mike Houlahan

You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. NewsNationalIn her "Growth Budget", Nicola Willis has sent the country’s businesses to the gym for a workout. In giving them a generous tax incentive to splash out on new machinery, the finance minister is banking on business muscling up, gunning for export growth and lifting the heavy weights as the government returns to surplus on the back of their efforts.
No respite for the politically driven

2 weeks ago | odt.co.nz | Mike Houlahan

You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. NewsNationalThe evergreen Winston Peters keeps rolling on and on, and he tells political editor Mike Houlahan that he has no intention of quitting now. Whatever you think of Winston Raymond Peters’ politics, there is little denying he is the most remarkable politician in our House of Representatives.
Tikanga or not tikanga, that is the regulatory review question

3 weeks ago | odt.co.nz | Mike Houlahan

The regulations review committee is one of those select committees which does not get the recognition it deserves. Given its role is, as the name implies, to scrutinise the thousands of regulations promulgated by the government annually, it has a reputation for being somewhat esoteric at best and nerdy at worst. However, it is also a good training ground for backbench MPs as they learn the intricacies of the law-making process.
Tamping down expectations

3 weeks ago | odt.co.nz | Mike Houlahan

New Zealand is not in clover, but there is reason to be optimistic as Finance Minister Nicola Willis prepares her second Budget, writes political editor Mike Houlahan. Inflation is back under control, interest rates have dropped, GDP data is showing growth has returned, export receipts are up and business confidence is on the way up ... surely Nicola Willis is a happy finance minister?
An eye on achieving ‘good outcomes’

3 weeks ago | odt.co.nz | Mike Houlahan

You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. RegionsA new MP with a new ministerial portfolio, James Meager is a man breaking new ground, political editor Mike Houlahan reports. One advantage James Meager has as he embarks upon the challenge of being the first Minister for the South Island — there has never been one before, so he can shape the role how he likes.
Govt says do be hasty

4 weeks ago | odt.co.nz | Mike Houlahan

You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. OpinionYou may have had a bad week but it’s probably nothing compared with the week Dunedin Labour MP Rachel Brooking has had. Ms Brooking has oscillated between outrage, anger, despair and disgust during the course of the past few days as the government took urgency to pass two Bills which she was deeply affronted by: the Equal Pay Amendment Bill and the Wildlife (Authorisations) Amendment Bill.
Parker leaves House knowing he ‘tried to move the dial’

1 month ago | odt.co.nz | Mike Houlahan

You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. NewsDunedinA self-described proud Otago conviction politician, David Parker bade farewell to the House of Representatives last night in a valedictory speech in which he wore his heart on his sleeve.