The House

The political week has been packed with worthy distractions, but in the background all week Parliament has focused on passing new laws. Here are the highlights. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The House speaks to two members of the Samoan Community that came to Parliament to see the Restoring Citizenship Bill pass its final reading.  Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

At Parliament the vast majority of noise and passion was from the hikoi outside the chamber. The crowd so large that vast number likely never managed to get inside the grounds. Despite that, everyone was incredibly patient, friendly and polite. Inside, the debating chamber was never going to quite match the energy - or possibly the politeness. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

After a tsunami of coverage out of Parliament last week, The House spoke to Press Gallery Chair Jason Walls about how the Press Gallery works. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Treaty principles bill dominated Parliament's week, despite being the final bill debated. How was it talked about in the House when it was not the topic of a debate; who focussed on it, who ignored it, who was ignored? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

In Parliament anything and everything can be political, or can be bent to politics. In recent memory, things as apparently innocuous as playground equipment, clothing, colours, or eating takeaways. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Following the Crown Apology for Abuse in State Care, Parliament passed the first reading of the Response to Abuse in Care Bill. Labour and National spoke of casting politics aside for a moment. Greens and Te Pāti Māori weren't so keen on that idea. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week, the Parliament Bill committee heard from a 16 year old high school student, and a former prime minister, 65 years his senior. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Atop the Beehive a lone national flag is tortured daily by Wellington’s gales. We join its handlers up on the roof to chat, watching as its fraying edges whip the sky. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Parliament is a mercurial place. Debate can flick from amity to antagony with each shift in topic, especially if that topic is climate change or agriculture, or both. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Today, Parliament begun a new, three-week-long sitting block. If Question Time was the first round warm-up for a new bout - when the boxers are still a little tentative and trying out new things, - it's unlikely to be a quiet lead-up to Christmas. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

In politics, they say you shouldn't have any skeletons in your closet. But what about in your Parliament? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

In the Sunday edition of The House, a story from Thursday and a new story: Returning some stolen citizenships gets likelier, and a petitioner to Parliament wants to include an oral undertaking to The Treaty of Waitangi – a guarantee of freedom of religion. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

After a robust select committee process, all parties now support a Members bill that would restore New Zealand citizenship to a select group of Samoans who lost it 4 decades ago. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Among all the government's resource management changes, the Fast-track Bill has received the bulk of attention. This week, a less traversed but equally significant bill from that suite became law. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Parliament has featured in New Zealand’s official Gazette thrice in three days. Once over a possible referendum to ban fireworks, twice over the removal of an MP who caused fireworks. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New Zealand's official newspaper, The Gazette, has mentioned Parliament twice this week. Once to announce an MP was getting the rocket, and once to outline a hope to ban rockets entirely. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

In the Sunday edition of The House Louis Collins talks Ministerial Statements with Chris Penk, and Phil Smith considers messages coming from public to government. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

On Tuesday, the Government made a Ministerial statement about the sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui. RNZ's The House sat down with the Minister who made it. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Watching people make submissions to select committees about laws can give you an idea of what types of expertise and experience are most useful; and that one of the most crucial might just be... people like you. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Rather than wait for the Opposition to apply for an urgent debate, the Government decided to get in first and on Tuesday, gave a Ministerial Statement on the sinking of HMNZS Manawanui. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

In sports, you don’t argue with the ref. It’s a similar situation at Parliament with the Speaker. The Speaker isn’t just Gerry Brownlee though. There are four other presiding officers he can rely on to help carry the load. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Attend the session where MPs’ oral questions to the Government are vetted and authenticated by Parliament’s Office of the Clerk. The matching article for this story, with photos from a vetting session, can be found at The House's news page here . Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

On the Sunday edition of The House, Louis and Phil consider a new Bill that reworks much of the legislation that underpins the running of Parliament, including its funding. (This episode combines two weekday episodes on aspects of The Parliament Bill and adds extra content.) Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

With all the talk about the Parliament Bill, The House sheds some light on some of the other items of business at Parliament this week. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details