The House

Legislation, issues and insights from Parliament.

Hosted by Phil Smith & Louis Collins

On air:

Tuesday - Wednesday at 8.20pm (when Parliament is sitting), Sundays at 7.45am, encore 10.45pm on RNZ National

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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Sometimes Parliament needs plot summaries

Parliament is always a story of continuing business, but this week plot summaries would have been helpful, to reveal ‘the story so far on Yeas and Nays of our Lives…'
New episode
Gerry Brownlee rings bell during Oriini Kaipara's maiden statement.

'A product of Māori resilience': Oriini Kaipara's maiden statement

Parliament's new MP for Tāmaki Makaurau, Oriini Kaipara, delivered her maiden speech this week - an event that was overshadowed somewhat by her supporters' celebrations. But what did Parliament's newest MP actually say in her speech before all that?
Oriini Kaipara makes her maiden statement.

MPs hash out the details of abuse in state care legislation

Nearly a year after the Government’s Crown Apology to Survivors of Abuse in State Care, Parliament is close to passing a bill aimed at preventing that harm from happening again
Signs from protestors sit outside Parliament during the apology for abuse in state care

Good MPs make great quiz team members

A good pub quiz team always needs music and sports nerds and a celebrity news addict, but for wide general knowledge a diligent MP might be just the thing, with good reason. MPs cover a boggling array of topics on a daily basis.
Parliament House with question marks

Groundhog Day as Peter’s delivers third Ministerial Statement on Gaza

Tuesday at Parliament felt a bit like Groundhog Day as Foreign Minister Winston Peters gave yet another Ministerial Statement on the war in Gaza.
Winston Peters speaking in the debate on a ministerial statement regarding the Israel/USA/Iran conflict.

The third branch: Parliament's relationship with the courts

The state has three independent branches. Victoria University Dean of Law, Geoff McLay helps explain the crucial relationship between parliament, government and the courts.
Former high court justices of New Zealand

Inside the Beehive’s emergency command bunker

Under the Beehive is the National Crisis Management Centre – an underground command centre where NEMA can coordinate responses to national crises. We take a tour.
The media briefing room inside the Beehive Bunker, properly known as the National Crisis Management Centre, from where national emergency responses are co-ordinated.

Government gets urgent on adoption

Parliament changed New Zealand’s adoption laws this week. The bill was revealed at the last minute, and thanks to urgency and unanimous support, it was completed within a day.
Paper people chain, books and judge's gavel. Law, family politics and gay marriage legalization.

MPs celebrate Māori language week by arguing in te reo

Parliament's translation team would have been flat out this week as Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori saw an uptick in te reo usage at Question Time

Government passes adoption bill under urgency

This week, the Government introduced an adoption law change at the last minute, which, thanks to urgency, passed all stages in one day.
Paper people chain, books and judge's gavel. Law, family politics and gay marriage legalization.

Moves from the Question Time playbook

Perhaps the most recognisable part of Parliament is Question Time. But what techniques do MPs from both sides use to game it to their advantage?
The sheet of Questions for Oral Answer that MPs get, printed on yellow paper. Note question 1: questions from support party MPs aren't always patsies. On today's list Green MP Julie Ann Genter asks the Minister of Finance about house prices.

Politics vs Governance: The Budget finale

This week the Government’s 2025 budget was finally approved by Parliament. The last major hurdle involved a long walk through a political minefield of questions, and even some answers. We look at the range of approaches, ideal and less so; including a new way to avoid answering questions.
Composite of Nicola Willis, the budget, and charts

The four month journey to budget approval

It's been over 100 days since Bugdet Day but lo and behold, the government is still in the process of securing Parliament's approval for the planned spending. The delay comes down to Parliament’s lengthy financial scrutiny process.
Budget 2025

Parliament’s workload and pace squeezing out committees

Parliament’s week is traditionally shaped across three days. That shape is increasingly being squeezed and select committees are being forced into the margins. We consider the factors at play.
Cartoon. Under a submission tsunami

The House on Sunday: Parliament's local MP

Each of New Zealand’s 72 electorates is unique, so what's it like to represent the heart of our capital city?
Tamatha Paul chats with Victoria University students at a Q and A

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