Articles by Felix Desmarais
-
National
NZ tourism jewel left in 'staggering' state following closure
Saturday, 7 January 2023, 2:01PMA faded framed picture hangs on a wall inside Rotorua’s Blue Baths. It shows a statuesque woman in a light pink dress and...
-
National
'Anxious and threatened'- residents petition for end to Kāinga Ora housing
Thursday, 15 December 2022, 4:00PM“We do not want to be known for our ghettos.” That’s the message from petitioners who presented 400 signatures to Rotorua...
-
National
New accord aims for ‘near zero’ motel housing
Friday, 9 December 2022, 10:12AMThe Government has signed a housing accord with Rotorua Lakes Council, Te Arawa and Ngāti Whakaue that seeks to “progressively...
-
National
Call for urgent 'stocktake' on emergency housing gang numbers
Friday, 9 December 2022, 8:11AMA local MP is urging the Government to do an urgent “stocktake” of how many gang members are in Rotorua emergency housing...
-
Politics
Rotorua mayor supports local election voting age remaining 18
Thursday, 8 December 2022, 4:25PMRotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell says she does not support changing the voting age for local elections from 18 to 16 years old. It...
-
National
Why mayor and deputy mayor didn’t attend Saving Glenholme meeting
Tuesday, 29 November 2022, 3:46PMRotorua’s deputy mayor has explained why she and the mayor did not attend a public meeting on Monday which traversed issues...
-
National
'Unfortunate chapter': Reserves proposal scrapped- unanimously
Thursday, 10 November 2022, 1:16PMA decision to revoke the reserve status of seven Rotorua reserve sites for development has been scrapped by a unanimous vote. The...
-
National
Rotorua reserves proposal u-turn to be considered
Tuesday, 8 November 2022, 1:18PMA controversial plan to revoke some of Rotorua's reserve sites for housing may be reversed on Thursday. The reversal is a...
-
National
Emergency housing likely for more than five years - council
Thursday, 7 July 2022, 5:11PMEmergency accommodation will be required in Rotorua for at least five years, if not more, a senior council official says. The...
-
Audio
'Respected' councillor quits in public meeting, claims mayor 'shunned' him
Friday, 29 April 2022, 7:24AMRotorua councillors have been left shocked after one of their own suddenly quit in a fiery exchange with mayor Steve Chadwick. Peter...
-
Politics
Jacinda Ardern on Matariki, child poverty and being called 'Cindy'
Monday, 7 September 2020, 9:21PMIt's a dinky little room, up the back and above the main meeting room at Tamaki Māori Village. "Hello, Prime Minister." It's...
-
Audio
John Key: Te Tii Marae Speech
Thursday, 5 February 2015, 1:41PMJohn Key talks about a number of issues amidst the backdrop of protests at Te Tii Marae ahead of the 175th anniversary of...
-
Opinion
Felix Marwick: Turei lost credibility for not telling full story
Monday, 7 August 2017, 5:40AMIf truth is a politician's strongest currency then predicament Green Party Co-Leader Metiria Turei is in is a prime example...
-
Politics
Turei hits back at claims she's encouraging people to break law
Wednesday, 26 July 2017, 5:22AMGreen Party Co-Leader Metiria Turei says she's not encouraging beneficiaries to break the law when it comes to their welfare...
-
Politics
Opposition leaders berated PM about his conduct in Barclay scandal
Tuesday, 25 July 2017, 5:02PMNational MP Todd Barclay's back at Parliament and back at the centre of political attention. The scandal besetting the Clutha-Southland...
-
Politics
PM not worried by Gareth Morgan standing in Epsom
Tuesday, 25 July 2017, 5:31AMThe Prime Minister's not a bit worried at the prospect of Opportunities Party founder Gareth Morgan standing in Epsom. Mr...
-
Opinion
Felix Marwick: Govt response to synthetic cannabis useless
Monday, 24 July 2017, 5:28AMThere are issues politicians love at election time, and then there are those that make their sphincters clench. The pursed...
-
Politics
English brushes off NZ First demand for Maori seat referendum
Monday, 24 July 2017, 5:17AMThe Prime Minister's brushing off bottom line demands being made by a potential post-election partner. Abolition of the seats...
-
Politics
Labour pledges to establish National Cancer Agency
Sunday, 23 July 2017, 2:40PMThe Labour Party's taking a broom to the current way cancer treatment's managed in this country. The party's unveiled a $20...
-
Opinion
Felix Marwick: Poll shows it's not all wine and roses for incumbents
Thursday, 20 July 2017, 6:12AMWhen election season is upon us, polls and polling results take centre stage. This year’s election is no different. Despite...
-
Opinion
Felix Marwick: Nothing quite like an election-year party conference
Tuesday, 18 July 2017, 5:19AMThere’s nothing quite like an election year party conference to really hit home the campaign wiles of our politicians. That...
-
Politics
Ron Mark: Govt lied to public about plan to send troops Iraq
Friday, 14 July 2017, 5:13AMThe Government's being accused of deliberately misleading the public over its 2015 decision to send troops to Iraq. In late...
-
Opinion
Felix Marwick: Shane Jones set to return to politics
Friday, 30 June 2017, 5:42AMIt would seem Parliament's prodigal son, Shane Jones, is about to return to the fold. Mr Jones, a former Labour MP before...
-
Politics
Nathan Guy stands by decision to grant Thiel citizenship
Friday, 30 June 2017, 5:09AMThe Prime Minister is unable to say how many other citizenship cases have been similar to that of US billionaire Peter Thiel. The...