The House

Legislation, issues and insights from Parliament.

Hosted by Phil Smith & Louis Collins

On air:

Tuesday - Wednesday at 8.20pm (when Parliament is sitting), Sundays at 7.45am, encore 10.45pm on RNZ National

Podcast Title 'The House' set in a bold font on an outside wall, with a image of the parliament house seen through a window

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Scrutiny week kicks off with high profile issues dominating exchanges

The first week of Parliament's final sitting block of 2025 is solely focused on scrutiny on past Government spending. It began with a back and forth on animal welfare.
New episode
A sour in a farrowing crate at an indoor South Taranaki pig farm.

Urgency ends early after voting gaffe

A late night voting error during a fourth evening of urgency last week forced the Government to end urgency sooner than expected.
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Parliament's penultimate sitting block brings long nights in the House

Urgency was the theme of the week at Parliament this week, both in the House and during the ongoing Standing Orders review into Parliament's rules.
National Party MP, Louise Upston speaking in the Urgent Debate.

Voting process slows but doesn't stop bills under urgency

MPs are working on 13 bills under Urgency this week but numerous amendments and drawn out voting sessions threaten to slow the process down.
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Clean vehicle bill passed under urgency

A bill reducing charges for clean vehicle imports has passed through under urgency at Parliament.
loading an electric car

MPs debate the details under urgency

MPs are working on passing bills through various stages under urgency this week with one of those stages involving putting legislation under the microscope
Defence Minister Judith Collins during the Committee of the Whole House stage

13 bills get urgency treatment in penultimate sitting block of 2025

In the last week of the penultimate sitting block of the year, the House was moved into urgency for the progression of 13 government bills.
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Loophole results in 11 day submission period for fast track amendments

A loophole in parliamentary rules has avoided a debate, shortened a committee report back time, and resulted in 11 days for the public to have their say on proposed fast track amendments.
Catherine Wedd and Rachel Brooking in exchange during Question Time

Government completes four bills in a week of political sideshows

Amidst political distractions Parliament continued to consider legislation, with four government bills completing their legislative journeys this week. Two enjoyed relative consensus across the House. The other two not so much.
Parliament's Order Paper for week of 11 November 2025

The House: Parliament reacts to the Jevon McSkimming scandal

Question time was pushed back on Wednesday this week so that the House could address the report of the Independent Police Conduct Authority
Public Services Minister Judith Collins speaks after a damning report into police conduct, with Police Commissioner Richard Chambers and Police Minister Mark Mitchell in the background.

Question time directs rare question to non-Ministerial MP

Question time is usually all about Ministers but today had an extra question directed at an MP outside the executive.
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Introducing: Politics NZ

Bonus episode
If you follow New Zealand politics, you'll want to follow Politics NZ. Get Nine to Noon Politics, The Whip, Morning Report's politicians panel, Focus on Politics, The House, and Context all in one feed.
Sketch-style white line drawing of New Zealand’s Beehive parliamentary building on a dark background, with the words ‘Politics NZ’ in white text above.

From combative words to first words as new MP gives maiden statement

MPs spend hours arguing in the debating chamber at Parliament but on certain occasions they put aside their differences and a new MP's first speech is one of those times.
Mike Davidson makes his maiden statement in Parliament

A former PM weighs in on Parliament's rules

This week, the Standing Orders committee who are doing their triennial review of Parliament's rules heard from a former PM
Sir Geoffrey Palmer gives evidence to the Parliament Bill Select Committee.

Redress, apologies, and pardons as MPs work on three Treaty settlement bills

Parliament extended its hours this week to progress three claims settlement bills for Ngāti Rāhiri Tumutumu, Ngāti Paoa, and Ngāti Hāua.
Members of Ngāti Pāoa outside Parliament after the iwi's Treaty Settlement passed its third reading.

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