Parliament
Reality check: Cabinet not in charge
A recent protest placard said "The Red Queen Shall Not Reign Supreme". That may have been intended as an insult and a demand but it actually just describes parliamentary democracy. Audio
Māori Affairs Committee marks its 150th anniversary
The Māori Affairs Select Committee is 150 years old. The media always love profile pieces on ancient folk having a birthday, so here is one on a particularly elderly committee. Audio
Mandate protest: a photo essay
The House was at the vaccine mandate protest this week. Here are some photos from an unusually eclectic event.
Chewing on bills: committees enjoy gristle
Parliament’s select committees have an endless menu of work, but seem to especially enjoy work that involves extra chewing. Audio
Ayesha Verrall knocks them off
When MPs begin their careers most outline hopeful future achievements. Some very hopeful. Few get to start polishing them off inside a year. Video, Audio
Re-entry of the gladiators
Parliament is back to full strength this week which means extra members’ bills are back on deck as well. Audio
The new guard connecting Parliament to youth
Parliament is not the fusty thing it once was, but perceptions don’t shift easily. Luckily Parliament has a new guard with ideas about how to brush off some of the dustier bits and help it connect… Video, Audio
Speaker scraps isolation rules for MPs' return to Parliament
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is making plans to travel to Auckland early next week.
A week of patsies, health and housing
A week in Parliament, with a cosy love-in on housing, a duel over health, and a dive into a trove of friendly patsies. Audio
Health reforms: diagnosis and second opinions
Parliament is considering a major health reform. We outline the symptoms, diagnoses and the treatment plans proposed by the different parties. Audio
Diving into Patsy
Patsy questions often get roundly ignored. Today we’re doing the opposite and diving deeper. Video, Audio
MPs tight on cozy housing
On Tuesday the House debated a new plan to enable denser housing. Most MPs were chuffed and chummy on the idea, others saw light between their houses. Audio
‘The Realm’ and the Queen’s new stand-in
The House was at the swearing in of the new Govenor General and brings a few fun facts about the event and the role. Audio
Covid sets a quiet scene at new Governor-General swearing in
Covid put a dampener on much of the usual pomp and ceremony for the swearing in of the new Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro at Parliament today.
Absent this time, the hundreds-strong greeting line… Video, Audio
Submissions: Advice that causes change
A bill on internet censorship shows why giving advice to Parliament is worth the effort. Select Committees, bills change. Audio
Parliament’s pre-Santa plan
The Leader of the House, Chris Hipkins, outlines Parliament's plan until Christmas, and the perfect storm of business that Covid has left in its wake. Audio
Submission rising: Parliament’s feedback flood
Parliament keeps breaking the records for public feedback. Why are New Zealanders getting involved in Parliament’s nitty gritty? Audio
More Māori in Parliament: Sandra Lee reflects on introduction of MMP
The first Māori woman to win a general electorate seat says while the introduction of MMP has allowed for more Māori representation in parliament there a still a lot of gains to be made.
From Youth MPs to actual MPs
Parliament is recruiting for a 2022 youth version of itself. Phil Smith chats with former Youth MPs, now actual MPs Ayesha Verrall and Tangi Utikere about they 1997 Youth parliament experience. Video, Audio
My view as a fly on Parliament's wall
As an eighteen-year-old high school student from West Auckland, New Zealand’s politicians have always felt unreachable. Then for a week, I got to see the inside as a fly on Parliament's wall.