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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Parliament delivers two heralds of the 2026 election

This week Parliament produced two heralds of the election to come. Crucial work on tweaking Parliament’s rules, and a calendar that may even hint at an actual election date. The first is crucial, the second just fun.
New episode
The Clerk of the House of Representatives, David Wilson taking part in Parliament's triennial Standing Orders Review.

A question of intent: Takutai Moana Bill passes third reading

The law relating to how customary marine title is granted in New Zealand will soon change, with the Takutai Moana Bill passing its third and final reading in Parliament this week.
Mana whenua expect to have a say about the impact of seabed mining on the environment and their cultural interests, says the expert panel convener.

It's called Question Time, not Answer Time

Parliament’s Question Time is correctly named. Actual answers can be few and far between.
Christopher Luxon in the House for the Crown apology for abuse in State care.

Moe mai rā, Mr Bolger: MPs Lament the death of the "great helmsman"

Today in Parliament, the usual agenda was put aside as the House dedicated the sitting day to lamenting the death of Jim Bolger. Almost all MPs made a note of his legacy as an advocate for Māori
Prime Minister Jim Bolger announces Winston Peters' dismissal from cabinet, 1991.

MPs hear submissions on Public Service Bill

The Governance and Administration Committee heard from submitters on the Public Service Amendment Bill this week. One such submitter, the Clerk of the House, said select committee scrutiny risks being weakened should a clause remain in the Bill.
David Wilson makes an oral submission to the Governance and Administration Committee on the Public Service Amendment Bill

Sometimes Parliament needs plot summaries

Parliament is always a story of continuing business, but this week plot summaries would have been helpful, to reveal ‘the story so far on Yeas and Nays of our Lives…'
Gerry Brownlee rings bell during Oriini Kaipara's maiden statement.

'A product of Māori resilience': Oriini Kaipara's maiden statement

Parliament's new MP for Tāmaki Makaurau, Oriini Kaipara, delivered her maiden speech this week - an event that was overshadowed somewhat by her supporters' celebrations. But what did Parliament's newest MP actually say in her speech before all that?
Oriini Kaipara makes her maiden statement.

MPs hash out the details of abuse in state care legislation

Nearly a year after the Government’s Crown Apology to Survivors of Abuse in State Care, Parliament is close to passing a bill aimed at preventing that harm from happening again
Signs from protestors sit outside Parliament during the apology for abuse in state care

Good MPs make great quiz team members

A good pub quiz team always needs music and sports nerds and a celebrity news addict, but for wide general knowledge a diligent MP might be just the thing, with good reason. MPs cover a boggling array of topics on a daily basis.
Parliament House with question marks

Groundhog Day as Peter’s delivers third Ministerial Statement on Gaza

Tuesday at Parliament felt a bit like Groundhog Day as Foreign Minister Winston Peters gave yet another Ministerial Statement on the war in Gaza.
Winston Peters speaking in the debate on a ministerial statement regarding the Israel/USA/Iran conflict.

The third branch: Parliament's relationship with the courts

The state has three independent branches. Victoria University Dean of Law, Geoff McLay helps explain the crucial relationship between parliament, government and the courts.
Former high court justices of New Zealand

Inside the Beehive’s emergency command bunker

Under the Beehive is the National Crisis Management Centre – an underground command centre where NEMA can coordinate responses to national crises. We take a tour.
The media briefing room inside the Beehive Bunker, properly known as the National Crisis Management Centre, from where national emergency responses are co-ordinated.

Government gets urgent on adoption

Parliament changed New Zealand’s adoption laws this week. The bill was revealed at the last minute, and thanks to urgency and unanimous support, it was completed within a day.
Paper people chain, books and judge's gavel. Law, family politics and gay marriage legalization.

MPs celebrate Māori language week by arguing in te reo

Parliament's translation team would have been flat out this week as Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori saw an uptick in te reo usage at Question Time

Government passes adoption bill under urgency

This week, the Government introduced an adoption law change at the last minute, which, thanks to urgency, passed all stages in one day.
Paper people chain, books and judge's gavel. Law, family politics and gay marriage legalization.

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