Parliament
Going back on wards, aiming at gangs
The House looks at two of the major bills this week: one walking back law on Maori wards, and one seeking new ways to show 'tough on gangs'. Audio
MPs on the Abuse in Care report
The moment the Abuse in Care Report was tabled in Parliament MPs began debating what it means and how to respond. Audio
Turn up, stand up: Learning from MP’s mistakes
An embarrassing kerfuffle in Parliament's debating chamber on Wednesday provided fun lessons on how the House works; or at least, how it is meant to work. Audio
Māori Wards Bill back in the House
After receiving over 10,000 submissions in just five days, legislation relating to Māori wards returned from committee this week.
Shadow leader visits UK clerks
The House chats with Kieran McAnulty about a recent trip which included visits with the Clerks of the Scottish and Uk Parliaments. Audio
"Plans on top of plans": Being parliament’s scheduler
Ever wanted a job that combines a very public tight-rope walk with solving fiendish puzzles? Helping The Leader of the House wrangle Parliament’s Order Paper is just the thing. Audio
Lobbyists: What do they do and why the bad rep?
Lobbyists are often portrayed as political bogeymen (or women). But what do they actually do and how? The House chats with two of them. Audio
Displacement, drift, layering and conversion: The changing parliament
There is new research on how Parliament's rules change, and the researcher gets to observe that change very closely – Parlament's Clerk of the House. Audio
New bills, ferry debacles and Samoan citizenship rights
Parliament tussled through another long week of urgency, and more besides. The House weekend edition has a stormy debate on ferries, five new bills for comment, and submissions on restoring Samoan… Audio
Submissions on restoring Samoan's citizenship rights
Parliament is hearing submissions on a bill that would create a route to restore NZ citizenship for those Samoans who had that right removed in 1982. Audio
An urgent week leaves bills wanting feedback
Parliament had another week of urgency and a new list of bills. Five now need public feedback on things ranging from charter schools, and medicine regulations, to three strikes sentencing. Audio
Parliament debates ferry stranding and contract
Parliament’s urgent debate on the recent ferry grounding was a rollicking ride, and you might say the Speaker was to blame. Audio
Tuesday: Scrutiny begins
The House covers the beginning of Scrutiny Week - when Parliament makes the Government really work to get its budget approved. Audio
Scrutiny Week: When 'government comes to Parliament and tries to justify its spending'
Despite Parliament having supremacy, governments often play the boss. This week the tables will turn as ministers face up to backbenchers for Parliament's first Scrutiny Week. Audio
Making complaining about MPs less scary
Parliament has a long-held reputation for bad bosses and even worse behaviour. One solution is a new independent role to hear complaints. Audio
Budget Day: A Photo Essay
Budget Day in photos: Facts, attacks, stories, protests, pantomime and proclamations. Audio
Urgency, at a snail's pace
After the Budget Debate begins, it's usual to go into urgency to progress some government bills quickly through the House, or as is the case so far this year - not so quickly. Audio
Enough numbers, let’s talk process
Once the Budget Statement is delivered, what happens next? The House looks beyond the initial announcement to the three different processes that follow it, sometimes concurrently. Audio
A taste of something non-budget, with a hint of gooseberry
Like the calm before a storm, Wednesday evening at Parliament was not about the budget. It was a Members' Day including a bill on cellar door tastings. We sip it with its sponsor Stuart Smith. Audio
It's not Budget week, it's budget months
It's budget week at Parliament, but Thursday's announcement is just the beginning of a long process of the Government convincing Parliament to fund its ideas. Audio