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It was a sitting block of just one week but it had its share of surprises, routine stuff and signs of a changing culture around scrutiny at committee level.  Audio

Members Day this week had it all: surprise votes, big and niche issues, success and failure. A bill from a retiring MP led to an environmental rights debate which included gaping philosophical divides… Audio

New goverment, new parliament, new Leader of the House. Chris Bishop is now the Minister responsible for shepherding the Government's legislative agenda. He explains how. Audio

A rare four-week sitting block at Parliament has wound up, with the Government’s programme of moving legislation through under urgency used throughout. Audio

The new Parliament has spent most of its existence under urgency. What is that, and why use it?  Audio

This morning’s debates in the chamber provided multiple examples of how difficult it can be as a presiding officer when contentious bills are going through under urgency. Audio

Green Party co-leader James Shaw talks about his decision to step down, his time in the role, and the message he has for whoever succeeds him. Audio

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

The final thing Parliament did before adjourning was agree rules changes for the next Parliament. We discuss them with senior clerks David Wilson and Gabor Hellyer. Audio

Before Parliament adjourned it agreed new rules for next time. In discussing them MPs gave glimpses into the rules they would like to change and the Parliament they wished existed. Audio

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

It is the second to last sitting week for Parliament but there is still a mountain of bills to get finalised before the MPs wearily trudge home. Audio

Promises, promises: it’s easy to forget which party has pledged what. Welcome to RNZ’s go-to guide for party policy ahead of the 14 October election day. We’ll keep updating this guide as policies are…

This week is the first of the last three weeks in the 53rd Parliament, a busy time as the Government still has a lot that it wants to finish before the House rises. Audio

This week MPs had a special debate about the report of the Regulations Review Committee on Covid-19 Secondary Legislation.  Audio

A new Member's Bill looks to fix a 40-year-old outcome of the anti-Pacific racism of the Dawn Raids era, restoring the right to New Zealand citizenship for a generation of Samoan people. Audio

As MPs count down to the election Parliament’s mood changes. The Opposition’s House leader Michael Woodhouse predicts “more anger, frivolity, perhaps less discipline”. “Perhaps” seems generous. Audio

During a briefer than usual urgent sitting in Parliament this week, multiple bills were progressed through multiple stages each in what would normally take a couple of sitting weeks of debate. Audio

When things threaten to go awry it can help us learn how they work. So, how do Select Committees decide to amend bills, who helps them; and how do they track amendments and communicate with the legal… Audio

This week was Budget week at Parliament, but instead of boring you with numbers, The House dives into limitations of party leaders' responses in the Budget Debate and what got done under urgency. Audio

The Minister of Finance talks us through the ceremonial nature of the delivery of the Budget in Parliament. Audio

Parliament changed a long-standing rule this week and will now leave the counting of votes to the experts. It turns out MPs just aren’t that good at counting. Audio

Rachel Hayward has two overlapping jobs, ‘organising’ both Cabinet and the Executive Council. Those twin roles are an also a great insight into how government works at the very highest level. Audio

Legislation on alcohol went to a conscience vote this week, and the result was a reminder how some parties still tend to vote as a group on such issues. Audio

In a busy week of Parliament one of the most crucial things MPs did may have got the least attention. Financial scrutiny is seldom exciting but it is important. Audio

Auckland has pulled out of the Local Government Association, because the mayor thinks it's too bureaucratic and members just "get pissed all night long" at conferences.

Auckland Council currently… Audio

Parliament this week may agree to act speedily on a cyclone response bill, rather than invoke urgency. Doing so will allow some select committee time on the issue, and even a Member's Day. Audio

Tony Stamp assesses new records from futurist RnB star Kelela, veteran indie rockers Yo La Tengo, and a collaboration between Senegal and Sweden called Wau Wau Collectif. Audio

After a week of business in the House was lost due to Cyclone Gabrielle, Parliament’s sitting year properly gets underway today with Debate on the Prime Minister’s Statement. Audio

"The struggle is real out here." That from an Aucklander who works as a cleaner, earning the minimum wage.

She is welcoming the $1.50 an hour bump for Aotearoa's lowest earners. The government… Audio