The House

Legislation, issues and insights from Parliament.

Hosted by Phil Smith & Louis Collins

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

Follow this podcast

RSS

Get this podcast straight from the source in the free RNZ app: Apple App Store or Google Play

All episodes:

‘I wish you a wonderful break. You bloody deserve it!’

Parliament finished its year with a final debate: a chance for a last laugh, a litany of thanks, and a quick punch in the conk. And many wishes for a good break after a hard year.
Parliament's debating chamber sits empty

Sudden outbreaks of accord: Parliament’s final week

Parliament has had it's final day of debating in a week that has been unusual convivial. Mostly.
The Hansard team show off their festive decorating skills.

Parliament: last orders please

"All over bar the shouting" might refer to many final weeks in Parliament, but this year the MPs still have an ambitious legislative agenda and just two days to get it all done.
Chris Hipkins

Gender self-ID: 'You can change the law'

The media focus at Parliament was on the impact of leadership, but the legislation told a different story - about the impact of the public. That we can each change the law.
A submitter reads their written submission to a select committee and a lot of media microphones. Tissues on the table indicate the topic is sensitive.

Lento, presto, repeat: Louise Upston’s member’s bill

Louise Upston's been working on a victims rights member's bill for more than a decade. After a long gestation and a troubled passage this week it suddenly raced to the finish line.
National MP Louise Upston speaks in the debate on Conversion Practices

New party leaders, new energy, new everything

Parliament's opposition has shuffled its deck thoroughly and the House has reacted like a school room after a lolly scramble - all sugared up and excited.
Christopher Luxon pulls down his mask to better interject

3,2,1… finishing up, not winding down

Parliament has reached the penultimate week of its year. You might think it was winding down but the to-do list is still prodigious.
No caption

The MPs scrutinising the Covid-19 rules

Some ministers and ministries have special powers to unilaterally make new laws. And a small group of lawyerly MPs have the job of breaking out the microscope and checking they do it right.
Parliament's front door

Coaching the troops: Parliament's Speaker on improving process

The Speaker is the guardian, champion and referee of parliamentary process, but he also coaches the foot soldiers in the arts of battle - individually or en masse.
Speaker Trevor Mallard masked

Red, green, blue, yellow? Parliament’s Covid traffic lights

Parliament has approved the traffic light system, and so Parliament must also abide by it. The Speaker, Trevor Mallard discusses the complexities for Parliament and how it will be applied.
Orange Traffic Light in front of Parliament

Speed shows natural divide

By design there is a gulf between parliaments and governments. It is most obvious when government asks Parliament to go faster.
Whoosh! A bill speeds on its way.

A complicated week: Urgency gives House plans A and B

Most weeks at Parliament are reasonably predictable, this week might need a flow diagram. There's a morning sitting, a members' day and urgency.
Chris Hipkins speaks in an urgent debate on the travel bubble

Recapping the week in Parliament

The House wraps Parliament's week; asks who really runs the country and outlines the repeal of the three strikes law.
Entering Parliament House through the main doors, only used for ceremonial occasions

Froth on top, accord below: the different MP modes

MPs sometimes appear intractably opposed, but while they can be combative in public they are often collaborative behind closed doors. This week had a four hour long example.
National MP Michael Woodhouse appealing to the Speaker during Question Time

Three Strikes Repeal

Covid-19 may dominate the news but Parliament does also have other things on its agenda. Quite a few things including a repeal of Three Strikes sentencing law.
Justice Minister Kris Faafoi announces the government will repeal the three strikes law, Thursday 11 November 2021.

Other podcasts
like this one

More podcasts with similar themes or ideas that you might enjoy.