Parliament

There’s a look in the eyes of many people who work on precinct that tells you they just want this parliamentary year to finish already, but it’s not quite done yet. Audio

The Speaker's role and approach are crucial to Parliament's good functioning. Gerry Brownlee has outlined to MPs what approach he will take in enforcing Parliament's rules regarding Question Time. Audio

It's early in the 54th Parliament and things are dynamic, with many MPs either still finding their feet or feeling out the others to see how they roll. Audio

Parliament’s in urgency in this hectic, penultimate week before Christmas, and most MPs are undergoing a kind of crash course of learning and adjustment. Audio

Parliament is discovering how the Speaker will interpret its rules. Today's contention was can he force good answers from ministers, or indeed, any answers. Audio

A new Parliament, a new Prime Minister, a new Speaker. There was a lot going on at Parliament in the first week of its 54th incarnation. Audio

MPs have clashed for the first time since the election in a fiery debate that'll set the tone for the next three years.

Party leaders argued over race relations, conspiracies and Labour's election… Audio

Before MPs can fight they must first swear. Swearing is the main business of Parliament's first day, other than choosing themselves a judge and protector - the Speaker. 

Parliament business got underway after the State Opening of the 54th Parliament, a ceremony of pomp and pageantry culminating in the Speech from the Throne. Audio

Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins re-entered the Parliamentary ring this afternoon, exchanging vicious blows in the first debate of this term. It followed the pomp and pageantry of this morning's… Audio

The new Speaker Gerry Brownlee has offered a heads-up about how he'll run Parliament, with Standing Orders to be a mere guide rather than a strict line to follow. Audio

With a government now formed the 54th Parliament can finally get underway. Twice. Here’s how that happens.

Wellingtonians can breathe a sigh of relief after a protest involving hundreds of people mirroring last years anti mandate occupation remained peaceful. The protest organised by Brian Tamaki's Freedom… Video, Audio

Scientific research has taken Dr Chandrika Nath from pole to pole. As a glaciologist she has worked in Lapland and Antarctica, spending 100 days in the latter collecting data samples in extreme… Audio

The final thing Parliament did before adjourning was agree rules changes for the next Parliament. We discuss them with senior clerks David Wilson and Gabor Hellyer. Audio

Before Parliament adjourned it agreed new rules for next time. In discussing them MPs gave glimpses into the rules they would like to change and the Parliament they wished existed. Audio

MPs have been debating whether to lower the voting age for local council elections to 16 years of age from the current age of 18. Audio

The last sitting week of the 53rd Parliament has a fairly packed schedule of government business, plus debate on the Standing Orders Committee's regular report, and the Adjournment Debate. Audio

Before you can hold an election, a little polite brutality is required. First you must dissolve the current Parliament. No-one wants two parliaments at once do they?