[2][5] Dowie was returned again in 2017 with a slightly reduced margin over new Labour candidate Liz Craig and sitting New Zealand First list MP Ria Bond.

[6] In this role she campaigned against Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage's proposed tahr cull,[7] supported recreational whitebaiting,[8] and promoted a member's bill aimed at regulating the shark cage diving industry.

[9] She also opposed the Labour government's plans to merge the country's polytechnics into a single entity, Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology.

[16][17] In 2019 Dowie was re-selected unopposed as National's Invercargill candidate, but in February 2020 announced her decision not to stand for re-election.

Dowie gave a number of high-profile interviews with news media following the announcement of her retirement from Parliament, including with New Zealand Herald senior writer David Fisher,[23] Stuff’s Andrea Vance,[24] and Newsroom’s Melanie Reid.

[25] In these interviews she described Ross as psychologically, sexually and emotionally abusive and called for an overhaul of the way in which women MPs are treated.

[26] In exit interviews, Dowie stated her intention to work as a consultant championing Southland and shepherding policy through central and local government.