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Scrutiny week: High profile issues dominate opening days
The first week of Parliament's final sitting block of 2025 is focused on scrutiny on past Government spending. Early conflict focused on animal welfare.
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Urgency ends early after Parliament voting gaffe
1 Dec 2025A late night voting error during a fourth evening of urgency last week forced the government to end urgency sooner than expected.
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Voting process slows but doesn't stop bills under urgency
25 Nov 2025Thirteen bills were put down to progress under urgency at Parliament last sitting block but numerous amendments and drawn out voting sessions threaten to slow…
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MPs debate defence details under urgency
21 Nov 2025MPs are working on passing bills through various stages under urgency this week, including a stage where details as specific as the title are debated.
The House headlines with summaries.
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Thirteen bills get urgency treatment in penultimate sitting block of 2025
19 Nov 2025In the last week of the penultimate sitting block of the year, the House was moved into urgency for the progression of 13 government bills.
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How a 'loophole' resulted in 11-day submission period on fast-track amendments law
18 Nov 2025Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the decision "infringed on the rights" of the public to take part in the process.
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Government completes four bills in week of political sideshows
14 Nov 2025Four government bills completed their legislative journeys this week - two enjoyed relative consensus across the House. The other two, not so much.
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'Utterly disgraceful': Parliament reacts to McSkimming saga
13 Nov 2025Question time was pushed back on Wednesday this week so that the House could address the report of the Independent Police Conduct Authority into misconduct at police.
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Question Time directs rare query to non-ministerial MP
13 Nov 2025Question Time is usually all about ministers, but on Thursday it had an extra question directed at an MP who is not a minister.
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From combative words to first words as new MP gives maiden statement
11 Nov 2025Parliament is well known as a place where MPs disagree, debate, and dispute but an MPs first speech is a time where arguing is put to one side.
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A former PM weighs in on Parliament's rules
11 Nov 2025The Standing Orders committee continues its triennial review of Parliament's rules and hears from a former PM.
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The House: Behind the scenes at the Parliamentary library
11 Nov 2025The House chats with three members of the Parliamentary library. More than just books and periodicals - it's a research powerhouse.
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Redress, apologies, and pardons as MPs work on three Treaty settlement bills
6 Nov 2025Parliament extended its hours this week to progress three claims settlement bills for Ngāti Rāhiri Tumutumu, Ngāti Pāoa, and Ngāti Hāua.
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Regulatory Standards Bill back in the House
5 Nov 2025While the week in politics began with another chapter in the ongoing tensions within Te Pāti Māori, the House started the parliamentary week by resuming the consideration of the closely followed…
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Parliament finds energy to debate power costs
26 Oct 2025This week, Parliament allocated an hour to debate New Zealand's struggling energy sector. All parties agreed it was an issue, but diverged on how to solve it.
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Parliament delivers heralds of 2026 election
25 Oct 2025This week, parliament produced two signs of the election to come - crucial work on tweaking rules and a new calendar that may just hint at an election date.
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A question of intent: Takutai Moana Bill passes third reading
23 Oct 2025The Takutai Moana Bill bill on customary marine titles has passed after much argument over the original intent of its predecessor.
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Question Time, not Answer Time
22 Oct 2025Parliament's Question Time is correctly named. Actual answers can be thin on the ground.
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Moe mai rā, Bolger: MPs farewell the 'great helmsman'
19 Oct 2025On Thursday, Parliament's usual agenda was set aside, as MPs lamented the death of Jim Bolger, Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1990-97. Audio
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MPs hear submissions on Public Service Bill
16 Oct 2025The ability of Parliament to scrutinise the government and public service departments would be directly affected by changes considered to the Public Service Amendment Bill, the Clerk of the House…
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Sometimes Parliament needs plot summaries
16 Oct 2025Parliament is always a story of continuing business, but plot summaries were needed this week to reveal 'the story so far…'.
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Oriini Kaipara's maiden statement: 'A product of Māori resilience'
12 Oct 2025Oriini Kaipara's maiden speech was overshadowed a little by celebration of it, but what did Tāmaki Makaurau's new MP actually say? Audio
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Good MPs make great quiz team members
9 Oct 2025A good pub quiz team always needs a music and a sports nerd and a celebrity news addict, but for wide general knowledge an MP might be just the thing.
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Groundhog Day, as Peters delivers third ministerial statement on Gaza
8 Oct 2025Tuesday at parliament felt a bit like Groundhog Day, as Foreign Minister Winston Peters gave yet another ministerial statement on the war in Gaza.
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The third branch: Parliament's relationship with the courts
5 Oct 2025The state has three independent branches. Victoria University Dean of Law Geoff McLay helps explain the crucial relationship between Parliament, government and the courts. Audio
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The House: Inside the Beehive’s emergency command ‘bunker’
28 Sep 2025RNZ takes a tour of 'The Beehive Bunker' - the National Crisis Management Centre.
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Government passes adoption bill under urgency
Parliament changed New Zealand's adoption laws this week. The bill was revealed at the last minute, and thanks to urgency and unanimous support completed within a day.
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MPs celebrate Māori Language Week by arguing … in te reo
19 Sep 2025Parliament's Nga Ratonga Ao Māori translation team had their work cut out for them this week as the use of te reo Māori in the House surged in tribute to Māori Language Week. Audio
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