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

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The Themes and Stylings of a 13-Hour Debate

So far this year, Parliament has been dominated by one very long debate on whether the House approves of the Prime Minister's speech outlining his plan for the year. We look at some of its themes and rhetorical stylings.
The Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, in the Budget Debate.

"Mental health is about lived experience" Minister tells MPs

On Wednesday this week, the Health Committee heard from both the Mental Health Minister and members of the public who offered their lived experience of mental health treatment.
Matt Doocey speaks to the health select committee during a hearing on the Mental Health Bill.

Rules and punishments for MPs

On Monday David Seymour mounted Parliament's lower front steps in a vehicle. The Speaker was not impressed. So what are the rules and who can punish an MP or Minister?
David Seymour starts to drive a Land Rover up the steps of Parliament, in a screenshot from the Act Party's video of the event.

The Summer of 300,000 submissions

Parliament may have been on summer break, but its website was anything but quiet. The House chatted to the person overseeing an unprecedented number of submissions.
The hikoi against the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill reaches Parliament.

The Maunga owns itself

This week Parliament did something important and unusual, giving the Taranaki Maunga legal personhood.
From the floor of the House Debbie Ngarewa-Packer joins Taranaki Iwi in the galleries as they sing in celebration of the passing of the Taranaki Maunga restitution bill.

New Year Resolutions: Parliament Style

After a series of speeches acknowledging several notable deaths that occurred over the Summer, Parliament kicked off 2025 by doing what it does best - arguing.
Document on table containing the Prime Ministers Statement

Parliament begins with farewells

Before the normal political welcome, MPs spent time farewelling the fallen, particularly Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming and Dame Tariana Turia.
Dame Turiana Turia addresses the Oranga Tamariki rally at Parliament

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