The House

Legislation, issues and insights from Parliament.

"Arcane but really important": Parliament Bill gets special committee

After years of suggestions for constitutional reform, the Parliament Bill has been introduced. In a rare occurrence at Parliament, a special committee has been set up to examine the bill.

09-24
05:39

Opposition forcing long debates on short committees

Opposition MPs have rediscovered an old filibustering tactic and are using it to protest the Government's scanty use of Parliament's select committees.

09-21
12:41

Wā Pātai: Māori language week at Parliament

Parliament was buzzing with te reo this week. With many members using it in Question Time, the translation team certainly would have been busy.

09-19
05:13

MPs rediscover a filibustering tactic

Opposition MPs appear to have rediscovered an old filibustering tactic and are using it to protest the Government's liking for sending bills to select committees for very short periods.

09-18
06:49

Budget 2024: Light at the end of the tunnel

The Government's first budget is finally reaching the end of its long approval process, and it's going to be just in time. You might have thought it was all done and dusted months ago, but Parliament is pretty careful with giving away pocket money.

09-17
04:59

Leading in opposition & building an alternative government

Chris Hipkins discusses his formal parliamentary title: Leader of the Opposition, and the very different job of leading in opposition.

09-14
14:51

Parsing Question Time answers

Question Time is the political equivalent of managers being grilled in front of the board, even when the Prime Minister is being quizzed by the opposition. Imagining it as literally that gives a different slant to teasing out the answers, the deflections and obfuscations.

09-11
04:57

Parliament honours Kiingi Tuheitia

Parliament adjourned early today in respect for Kiingi Tuheitia, the late leader of the Māori Kingitanga. Before they adjourned there were speeches.

09-11
06:35

CYP 12 - 60 MPs, 60 accents, 100 opinions

This week New Zealand’s Parliament hosted the Commonwealth Youth Parliament, bringing youth leaders together from Fiji to the Falklands.

09-07
14:02

Rising costs and rising seas: Parliament’s climate adaptation inquiry

The Climate Change Commission told members this week that climate adaptation is the "most difficult challenge this country faces over the next century."

08-31
14:55

Petitioner reveals NZ First's original fast track bill, with hidden projects

Petitions often touch on very human stories, or on tricky philosophical issues. This week, one threw explosive new information into an already contentious debate.

08-30
05:39

Stop the questions: a coach steps in to end the fight

Parliament's Question Time is a slow-moving boxing match with many rounds. This week one boxer's second stepped into the ring to help. They didn't throw in the towel, but they did try to stop the bout.

08-28
04:37

From Beehive to Bluegrass: Kiwi MPs head stateside

The House hears from two MPs, usually foes, who have spent a week together stateside, like a political odd couple.

08-25
08:38

How not to answer a question, and other lessons from Parliament

A dispute during Question Time this week was packed with lessons on asking questions in Parliament, and especially how not to answer them.

08-23
06:04

Water, coastlines, and corrections: Parliament’s committee stage this week

It's not uncommon for a Committee of the Whole House to need several sittings to consider a bill. With three government bills under consideration by the Committee this week, most of Parliament's sitting time will be devoted to this process.

08-22
04:37

Kumbayah, now take that!

The House began a new sitting block sharing a little love over the Paris Olympics results, but the sudden outbreak of amity didn't last.

08-20
05:33

Being Māori at Parliament

New Zealand's Parliament House is a strikingly colonial edifice. So how does it feel to be Māori in that space?

08-17
14:01

Taking their word for it: Lying and MPs

Few people think MPs never lie, so why are they seldom punished? We investigate Parliament's rules on mistakes, fibs, and perfidious calumny.

08-10
14:26

Water cooler chat: Parliament’s General Debate

From birthday messages, to lamenting New Zealand cultural icons, the General Debate enables MPs to climb onto the soapbox and yarn about whatever's on their mind.

08-09
03:49

Let your vocal chords do the walking

The censure of an MP this week came with a message about how to handle provocation - keep it vocal.

08-08
05:33

Cate O'Connell

Moe mai moe mai ra Fa'anānā Efeso Collins💐💐 Aotearoa needed this tane at this time. A great loss for us all.

03-03 Reply

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