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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Nov 16, 2025•13 min•Ep. 731
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Nov 13, 2025•6 min•Ep. 730
Question time was pushed back on Wednesday this week so that the House could address the report of the Independent Police Conduct Authority Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Nov 12, 2025•6 min•Ep. 729
Question time is usually all about Ministers but today had an extra question directed at an MP outside the executive. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Nov 11, 2025•5 min•Ep. 728
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Nov 10, 2025•1 min•Ep. 726
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Nov 09, 2025•12 min•Ep. 725
This week, the Standing Orders committee who are doing their triennial review of Parliament's rules heard from a former PM Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Nov 06, 2025•4 min•Ep. 727
Parliament extended its hours this week to progress three claims settlement bills for Ngāti Rāhiri Tumutumu, Ngāti Paoa, and Ngāti Hāua. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Nov 05, 2025•5 min•Ep. 724
While the week in politics began with another chapter in the ongoing tensions within Te Pāti Māori, the House started the parliamentary week by resuming the consideration of the widely followed Regulatory Standards Bill. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Nov 04, 2025•4 min•Ep. 723
The House chats with three members of the Parliamentary Library. More than just books and periodicals – it’s a research powerhouse. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Nov 02, 2025•14 min•Ep. 722
The House on Sunday reviews the week's special debate on New Zealand’s struggling energy sector; and two signs that herald next election: the Standing Orders Review and... is that an interesting shape in Parliament's 2026 Sitting Calendar? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Oct 25, 2025•14 min•Ep. 721
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Oct 23, 2025•5 min•Ep. 720
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Oct 22, 2025•6 min•Ep. 719
Parliament’s Question Time is correctly named. Actual answers can be few and far between. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Oct 21, 2025•5 min•Ep. 718
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 Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Oct 16, 2025•5 min•Ep. 717
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Oct 15, 2025•5 min•Ep. 716
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…' Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Oct 14, 2025•4 min•Ep. 715
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? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Oct 11, 2025•11 min•Ep. 714
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 Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Oct 09, 2025•5 min•Ep. 713
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Oct 08, 2025•4 min•Ep. 712
Tuesday at Parliament felt a bit like Groundhog Day as Foreign Minister Winston Peters gave yet another Ministerial Statement on the war in Gaza. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Oct 07, 2025•5 min•Ep. 711
The state has three independent branches. Victoria University Dean of Law, Geoff McLay helps explain the crucial relationship between parliament, government and the courts. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Oct 04, 2025•14 min•Ep. 710
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Sep 27, 2025•15 min•Ep. 709
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Sep 20, 2025•14 min•Ep. 708
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 Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Sep 18, 2025•5 min•Ep. 707
This week, the Government introduced an adoption law change at the last minute, which, thanks to urgency, passed all stages in one day. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Sep 17, 2025•5 min•Ep. 706
Perhaps the most recognisable part of Parliament is Question Time. But what techniques do MPs from both sides use to game it to their advantage? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Sep 16, 2025•4 min•Ep. 705
This week the Government’s 2025 budget was finally approved by Parliament. The last major hurdle involved a long walk through a political minefield of questions, and even some answers. We look at the range of approaches, ideal and less so; including a new way to avoid answering questions. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Sep 13, 2025•12 min•Ep. 704
It's been over 100 days since Bugdet Day but lo and behold, the government is still in the process of securing Parliament's approval for the planned spending. The delay comes down to Parliament’s lengthy financial scrutiny process. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Sep 10, 2025•5 min•Ep. 703
Parliament’s week is traditionally shaped across three days. That shape is increasingly being squeezed and select committees are being forced into the margins. We consider the factors at play. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Sep 09, 2025•5 min•Ep. 702