Written Questions: A less frustrating Question Time?
New episode
MPs Ayesha Verrall and Ricardo Menéndez March outline Parliament’s lesser known written version of Question Time, and compare it to its louder, less forthcoming, cousin.
New episode
The House
Legislation, issues and insights from Parliament.
Hosted by Phil Smith and Louis Collins
On air:
Tuesday - Wednesday at 8.20pm (when Parliament is sitting), Sundays at 7.45am, encore 10.45pm on RNZ National
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House on Sunday: Maiden speeches and memorable speeches
Following the retirement of former Speaker Adrian Rurawhe, Parliament has a new MP in, Labour's Georgie Dansey, a former teacher, and unionist based in Hamilton. She delivered her maiden speech on Wednesday this week.
Parliament's late comer makes maiden statement
Parliament's newest MP Georgie Dansey gave her maiden statement this week, wasting no time in getting stuck into her role as a member of the opposition.
Turning back time through law
Parliament is considering a law that changes what was legal in the past. Retrospective law-making is allowed, but rare and controversial.
Bishop and McAnulty speeches among the standouts
Parliament’s year begins with a very long debate. We review the event and sample a few of the best speakers.
DEI and Employment Relations: The week's contentious bills
Two bills made strong progress this week against fierce opposition. They aim to end diversity hiring in the public service, and "rebalance" employment relations. The House considers the bills and lopsided debating.
Employment relations and full speed, one-sided debates
In Parliament's first proper week back the government was still high-speed legislating with an extra sitting. Among the bills was one to "rebalance" employee/employer rights. The debate was quite one-sided.
Public Service Amendment Bill reignites DEI debate in the House
The Public Service Amendment Bill is back in the House from Select Committee, and has reignited debate on the culture war flashpoint of DEI.
Question Time - the election year edition
The election is still 270 sleeps away, but inside Parliament the hustings are assembled. Question Time's usefulness diminishes but jibes and insults flourish.
Inside the Chief of Staff role: The House chats with Kevin Hague
The House sits down with Kevin Hague to unpack what the Chief of Staff role really involves, what it’s like for the former MP to be back in the parliamentary world.
"I just wanted to leave quietly." Former Speaker Adrian Rurawhe farewells Parliament
Former Speaker Adrian Rurawhe is calling it quits after a decade in Parliament. Despite wanting to leave quietly, he reluctantly gave his final address to the House on Wednesday this week.
Parliament’s first week a warm-up to the election
Parliament’s first week was the 2026 election campaign writ small, from departing MPs to the 13-hour long debate over whether the Government should stay in office. The House attempts haruspicy on innards from the party leaders' speeches.
Parliament begins the year in lament, before debate
Before launching into the bellicose set piece that is the debate on the Prime Minister's statement, the Parliamentary year began on a more somber note with MPs paying acknowledging recent weather events.
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