Johnny Blades
Water reforms ditched and digital hitches: Parliament week
This weekly wrap of The House looks at the repeal of major water reforms passed in the last Parliament term, and a Select Committee hearing on news media's existential crisis. Audio
News media's existential crisis comes to select committee
A select committee is considering views on a bill that seeks a more level playing field in the digital market that our media industry operates in, where tech giants dominate. Audio
Water reforms down the drain after repeal bill
The Water Services Acts Repeal Bill has passed through all stages while Parliament went into urgency. Audio
Marathon sitting block underway with more repeals
An unusually long sitting block begins today at Parliament, beginning with another repeal of law passed by the previous government. Audio
Select Committee live-streaming moves off Facebook
Live-streaming of public select committee hearings is now being hosted on Parliament’s own website instead of on Facebook. Audio
Legislative year begins with ending Productivity Commission
The first piece of legislation Parliament is looking at in 2024 disestablishes a Crown entity that MPs all agreed has been doing great work. But they don't all agree that it should go. Audio
Parliament 2023, year of the shake-up
The House offers a selection of some of the highs and lows, and behind the scenes chats, from a year of great change at Parliament. Audio
Digging in: Parliament's grind towards year's end
There’s a look in the eyes of many people who work on precinct that tells you they just want this parliamentary year to finish already, but it’s not quite done yet. Audio
Early stanzas: getting a feel for the new Parliament
It's early in the 54th Parliament and things are dynamic, with many MPs either still finding their feet or feeling out the others to see how they roll. Audio
Crash learning: MPs adjust to new roles
Parliament’s in urgency in this hectic, penultimate week before Christmas, and most MPs are undergoing a kind of crash course of learning and adjustment. Audio
The House For Sunday 10 Dec 2023 Short
This is a shorter broadcast version of The House story from Dec 10th 2023. The full show is also available. Audio
Parliament: A change of ends and a new referee
A new Parliament, a new Prime Minister, a new Speaker. There was a lot going on at Parliament in the first week of its 54th incarnation. Audio
Pomp and ceremony gets Parliament underway
Parliament business got underway after the State Opening of the 54th Parliament, a ceremony of pomp and pageantry culminating in the Speech from the Throne. Audio
Parliament's new Speaker hints at free flow style
The new Speaker Gerry Brownlee has offered a heads-up about how he'll run Parliament, with Standing Orders to be a mere guide rather than a strict line to follow. Audio
Voting age for local council elections debated
MPs have been debating whether to lower the voting age for local council elections to 16 years of age from the current age of 18. Audio
A week to wrap up Parliament
The last sitting week of the 53rd Parliament has a fairly packed schedule of government business, plus debate on the Standing Orders Committee's regular report, and the Adjournment Debate. Audio
Beyond the tiles, the work of photographers at Parliament
If there’s one group who we don’t hear enough about, it’s the photographers who cover Parliament. A new exhibition is casting light on five of these practitioners. We talk to two of them. Audio
Valedictory warning about divisive style of politics
As more valedictory speeches were heard in Parliament’s chamber, a warning was sounded from a departing MP about race baiting and dog whistling to extremism. Audio