Parliament

Parliament's week includes a mix of debate on a key police scrutiny role, annual reviews and two bills about booze, as well as the farewell speech from a familiar face. Audio

Despite a week of distractions MPs were working. Hard. Ten bills were finished, and eight brand new bills began their lives, ready for the remaining weeks of this parliamentary term.    Audio

Parliament spent extra hours this week churning through quite a long list of proposed legislation, with ten bills completing their third and final readings. Audio

Question Time gets all the media attention, but it is only the tip of the scrutiny-iceberg. The action is below the waterline - in committee, where most of Parliament’s scrutiny of Government happens.

Stuart Nash says he'll remain the MP for Napier "for now".

In a Facebook post, he's apologised to the people of Napier, and said he'll continue to work hard to ensure they get everything they need as… Audio

Parliament can grant powers to certain authorities to make new rules without having to go through the normal lengthy legislative process. Audio

This week Parliament changes gears to kick start a bevy of proposed laws. It’s another sign the election is not far away. 

An increased appetite to learn Te reo Māori among different parts of the Parliament system means the work of the Māori Language Service is in demand more than ever. Audio

Parliament has a charming tendency to gift people with very odd job titles, like Shadow Leader of the House. Michael Woodhouse outlines what the job entails (and it's neither shade nor homes). Audio

This week MPs discussed Stuart Nash’s loss of a ministerial warrant for an hour. It may have looked like a political pile-on, but in reality it was Parliament doing exactly what it is designed for –… Audio

Response to recent climate disasters was the focus as the National Emergency Management Agency appeared before the Governance and Administration Committee for its annual review. Audio