The House
Legislation, issues and insights from Parliament.
Hosted by Phil Smith & Louis Collins
Get this podcast straight from the source in the free RNZ app: Apple App Store or Google Play
New episode
New episode
To mark the launch of the Ministry for Women's Free to Lead campaign, MPs discussed online harm and the safety of public figures in a panel this week at Parliament.
New episode
Parliament versus Executive: Regs Review and the Regulatory Standards Bill
Parliament versus Executive: Regs Review and the Regulatory Standards Bill
A parliamentary committee tasked with keeping a check on the Executive has heard how the Regulatory Standards Board would duplicate its role, but without its powers.
MPs check in with Parliament's boss
MPs check in with Parliament's boss
Albeit a month late, Speaker Gerry Brownlee sat down this week with the Governance and Administration Committee for a chat about Parliament.
New sitting block, new bills
New sitting block, new bills
Parliament kicked off a three week sitting block today, and the first legislative business was initial debates and votes on three brand new bills.
"We are watching, we are rising, we will not be silenced": Youth Parliament 2025
"We are watching, we are rising, we will not be silenced": Youth Parliament 2025
Last week, MPs were replaced by their younger counterparts during Youth Parliament 2025, and just like real Parliament, there was plenty of drama.
Making law: A final avalanche of edits
Making law: A final avalanche of edits
Before laws are finalised, MPs get a last chance to argue for changes. Pav Sharma—whose office manages them—explains the purpose, rules, and process for the many amendments.
House on Sunday: Debating war, mourning death
House on Sunday: Debating war, mourning death
Parliament spent most of the week debating legislation under urgency, finalising eight separate government bills, initiating four others.
Despite that effort, the week's most telling events may have been its bookends – the international tragedy that opening it, the very local tragedy at its close.
MPs pay tribute to Takutai Tarsh Kemp
MPs pay tribute to Takutai Tarsh Kemp
It was a sad day at Parliament on Thursday, with the news of the sudden death of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp. Before adjourning, The House paid tribute to her in a number of speeches.
Bills under urgency
Bills under urgency
Parliament's focus this week is debating numerous bills under urgency. Across recent parliaments the use of urgency and extra sittings has become so regular as to be almost normal. But it remains important to know what laws are being debated and agreed – at whatever speed.
Situation in the Middle East: Parliament reacts
Situation in the Middle East: Parliament reacts
The first item of business at Parliament this week was not Question Time, but a Ministerial Statement on the Middle East situation.
The House on Sunday: Xu-Nan on scrutiny, and bear pit tactics
The House on Sunday: Xu-Nan on scrutiny, and bear pit tactics
On the Sunday Edition of the House you can hear an interview with Lawrence Xu-Nan about Scrutiny Week and the preparation necessary. You can also listen to a description of a few of the Q&A tactics observed in the scrutiny hearings.
Tactics from the scrutiny bear pit
Tactics from the scrutiny bear pit
Scrutiny week is partly information-sharing and partly a partisan bear-pit. When Parliament undertakes governance of governments there are always tactics and politics involved.
Peters holds court at foreign affairs scrutiny hearing
Peters holds court at foreign affairs scrutiny hearing
Foreign Affairs is a portfolio that Winston Peters often receives bi-partisan congratulations on. In an otherwise adversarial scrutiny week, his hearing with the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee had a bastion of amicability and trust.
Lawrence Xu-Nan: Prepping for scrutiny week
Lawrence Xu-Nan: Prepping for scrutiny week
This week at Parliament is Estimates Scrutiny week, when Ministers face Select Committees to defend their budget plans. We talk with Green MP, Lawrence Xu-Nan, a star scrutiny performer from last time round.
As a former academic and one of a number of MPs with a PhD, Xu-Nan has the brutal research experience that is surely useful for digging into something as labyrinthine and esoteric as a budget.
The House: Morning Tea with Matt Doocey
The House: Morning Tea with Matt Doocey
For electorate M Ps, weekends are generally spent in the community meeting constituents. The House popped into a morning tea Q&A hosted by Matt Doocey.
Other podcasts
like this one
More podcasts with similar themes or ideas that you might enjoy.