Johnny Blades
Christchurch Call making headway
The Governance and Administration committee has been hearing from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet about what progress has been made on the Christchurch Call. Audio
Committee hears more on plight of 'hope seekers' from Tuvalu
Parliament’s Education and Workforce Committee has been considering the plight of undocumented Tuvaluans living in New Zealand without the right to work or to gain residency. Audio
Sense of urgency in Parliament amid winter gloom
Two bills - one addressing the supermarket duopoly, the other providing for a fourth round of Covid vaccination - are set for their second reading, committee stage and third readings this week. Audio
Parliament’s Serjeant: More than ceremonial
You might recognise him by his voice, so long as he is shouting. But despite his role being front-and-centre at Parliament you might be surprised what he does, and what he can do. Audio
Local authorities urge MPs to support alcohol harm minimisation bill
A proposed member’s bill addressing a power imbalance that prevents communities taking steps to develop public health measures on alcohol use could bypass the ballot process if enough MPs agreed. Audio
Hanging messages on Pae Ora
MPs have been getting down and dirty in the critical mud-wrestling phase of legislation to reform the public health system, the Pae Ora (Healthy futures) Bill. Audio
Aged Care workers call for increased minimum staff levels
Parliament’s health select committee hears a cry for help from workers in aged care residential facilities that staffing levels in their sector are unsafe and failing people. Audio
Last chance for MPs to edit health reform bill
Time is running out for changes to be made to proposed major health reform as the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill is in its committee stage. Audio
Playing catch-up to protect kids from digital harm
The MP behind a Member's Bill which targets online grooming of children by adult predators hopes for it to be widened in scope to include offline or ‘real life’. Audio
When courts tell parliament 'no', what next?
The Bill of Rights (Declarations of Inconsistency) Amendment Bill is the sort of legislation that constitutional law experts absolutely love but that may bore us to tears, until we realise it’s… Audio
Special debate on draft version of Resource Management Act replacement
Parliament shows its flexibility during an extended sitting when Special Debate will take place on a couple of complex items, notably the Natural and Built Environments Bill exposure draft. Audio
No matter what, any petition to parliament gets heard
The specialist Petitions Committee has processed a record number of petitions and it's only half way through the term. It hears petitions on almost anything. Audio
Select committees by Zoom, the great leveller
Doing select committees by Zoom can be clunky and lacking in nuance compared to in-person experience, but those who chair committees acknowledge that it improves overall accessibility of the public to… Audio
It’s the putting right that counts, or something like that
Debating legislation is about getting things right, but sometimes settling on what is right can be a bruising exercise for MPs, as Parliament witnessed during debate on a Member’s Bill today. Audio
Urgency called for as parliament committee works on pay gaps
Parliament’s Education and Workforce select committee has recommended that Government should consider requiring greater pay transparency from employers, and has been petitioned to add some urgency and… Audio