Parliament

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Liam Hehir needs to relearn his civics

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, May 22nd, 2025 - 16 comments

Generally I like reading Liam Hehir over at the The Blue Review. He is usually interesting despite his position. However he asserted that “Parliament Must Rule Itself”. Of course parliament must control itself. But rule itself – no! Voters do that. Parliamentary rules are mainly there to keep a low profile to voters looking at their poor performance. Right now that is inside the privileges committee.

The Government blinks

Written By: - Date published: 9:35 am, May 21st, 2025 - 15 comments

Faced with the threat of an impassioned filibuster against the Priviliges Committee extreme recommendations the Government yesterday abruptly stopped debate on the committee report by voting to adjourn the debate.

Privileges Committee recommendations are partisan, indefensible and racist

Written By: - Date published: 3:39 pm, May 19th, 2025 - 20 comments

The Privileges Committee recommendation for suspension of three Maori Party MPs for performing a haka in Parliament has been described as appearing to be partisan, indefensible and open to attacks of racism. Parliament’s response tomorrow will show how political the issue has become.

Te Pati Maori and the Privileges Committee

Written By: - Date published: 9:58 am, May 16th, 2025 - 40 comments

The Government’s desire to heavily punish Maori Party MPs for their haka in Parliament in opposition to the Treaty Principles Bill may have a dramatic effect on Budget Week.

Vale David Parker MP

Written By: - Date published: 2:08 pm, May 8th, 2025 - 20 comments

David Parker’s Deputy Leader ‘s speech in 2014 at the Wellington Labour Party Conference was the best I ever heard from a Labour Leader. Vision matched values in intensity and scope. Parliament now loses one of its very best.

When Government does not want to listen to the people

Written By: - Date published: 10:56 am, March 29th, 2025 - 27 comments

The Coalition is utterly disrespectful to the people.

Labour loses confidence in the Speaker

Written By: - Date published: 11:14 am, December 14th, 2024 - 14 comments

Gerry Brownlee has performed linguistic summersaults to conclude that private entities having their pet projects listed for preferential treatment in the Fast Track Approvals Bill do not constitute a private benefit.

Government bars Journalist for asking tough questions

Written By: - Date published: 12:39 pm, November 11th, 2024 - 28 comments

The Government has prevented journalist Aaron Smale from attending the Crown apology to victims of abuse in state care because his questions are too tough.

Tana is waka jumped

Written By: - Date published: 8:53 am, October 18th, 2024 - 54 comments

The Green Party has chosen to write to the Speaker seeking that Darlene Tana’s position as a MP is terminated.

What Happened in the House (Videos)

Written By: - Date published: 12:24 pm, August 30th, 2024 - 8 comments

NZ Parliament sitting where Labour’s Kieran McAnulty implores the Coalition government to stop deceiving Kiwis, and Winston Peters and Louise Upton both get fired up. Meanwhile, Casey Costello still doesn’t know who wrote her tobacco Ministerial papers.

About Karen Chhour’s future

Written By: - Date published: 11:06 am, August 3rd, 2024 - 27 comments

Act minister Karen Chhour has recently adopted the mantle of victimhood and claimed that she has been under attack and feels unsafe in Parliament. But the attacks are not personal and are motivated by the damage her party is causing to Oranga Tamariki as well as to the country’s race relations.

MPs pay increases

Written By: - Date published: 8:57 am, May 1st, 2024 - 94 comments

The Remuneration Authority has announced that MPs will be getting a 10% increase in their salaries during the course of this Parliament.

Hoatu he tumanako ki a rātou

Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, March 21st, 2024 - 20 comments

Grant Robertson has given his valedictory speech in Parliament.

Who is treating taxpayers as an ATM?

Written By: - Date published: 12:16 pm, March 1st, 2024 - 51 comments

It has been revealed that Christopher Luxon receives $52,000 a year from the taxpayer to pay for him staying in his own apartment. Update within the space of an hour he has said that it was his entitlement but then said that he will pay the money back.

Who are the four lobbyists with Parliamentary swipe cards?

Written By: - Date published: 12:23 pm, February 12th, 2024 - 23 comments

National has trashed its comment last terms that lobbyists should not have special access rights by handing out four swipe cards to lobbyists and refusing to say who they are.

Ratana and The Treaty of Waitangi

Written By: - Date published: 5:25 pm, February 6th, 2024 - 10 comments

“My understanding is a guy came out as a prophet of his own religious movement in the 1870s. And politicians feel a strange obligation to be there every year. I’ve never felt that.” David Seymour is shallow as a birdbath.

Ghahraman goes

Written By: - Date published: 12:49 pm, January 16th, 2024 - 77 comments

Green MP Golriz Ghahrahman has resigned from Parliament. 

How To Make Bad Law

Written By: - Date published: 12:36 pm, December 11th, 2023 - 15 comments

The cutting of Regulatory Impact Statements is a very serious weakening of holding lawmakers and decision makers  to account.

About that First Speech from Luxon as PM

Written By: - Date published: 2:47 pm, December 10th, 2023 - 58 comments

Chris Luxon failed miserably at his first character test as PM.

The Government is leaking like a leaky thing

Written By: - Date published: 10:39 am, December 9th, 2023 - 15 comments

Another day and another leak. And this time it calls into question the Government’s commitment to informed decision making.

Has Labour become a cadre Party? Pt 1 Leadership

Written By: - Date published: 4:43 pm, November 2nd, 2023 - 18 comments

In 2021, I voted against Labour’s conference proposal for midstream leadership change to be determined by Caucus alone, saying that it risked Labour becoming a cadre party for elites. A series of posts will start with why the Caucus should not rush to a leadership vote.

Pagani and Edwards do not understand the working class

Written By: - Date published: 9:26 am, November 1st, 2023 - 87 comments

Bryce Edwards and Josie Pagani have suggested that there should be more working class in Parliament. But the quality of their analysis leaves a lot to be desired.

National’s very bad week

Written By: - Date published: 9:51 am, August 26th, 2023 - 13 comments

National MP Tim Van Der Molen has been found to have been in contempt of Parliament for aggressive, hostile and threatening behaviour towards Labour MP Shannan Halbert during a select committee hearing.

Politics is indeed a blood sport

Written By: - Date published: 3:36 pm, July 25th, 2023 - 56 comments

But should it be? Without acknowledging in any way its role in politicising Kiritapu Allan’s issues National has stated that politics is a blood sport.

The very Kafkaesque attack on Kiritapu Allan

Written By: - Date published: 4:46 pm, July 2nd, 2023 - 54 comments

Being subject to allegations of inappropriate behaviour the detail of which has not been released by unnamed public servants must make Kiritapu Allan think that she is living in a Franz Kafka novel.

Sepuloni 1 Luxon 0

Written By: - Date published: 8:49 am, June 28th, 2023 - 12 comments

Yesterday in Parliament National attempted to embarrass Carmel Sepuloni in question time by asking her detailed economic questions. But the attempt backfired.

National thinks tax cut good, reduction in Government charges bad

Written By: - Date published: 8:13 am, May 19th, 2023 - 77 comments

National has promised to reverse the removal of prescription charges even though it has a strong policy support and is an example of the state taking less of individuals’ private wealth.

Late Game Bench

Written By: - Date published: 8:52 am, May 6th, 2023 - 8 comments

Last minutes of this parliamentary term and all teams are subbing out.

Jacinda’s Valedictory Speech

Written By: - Date published: 6:28 pm, April 5th, 2023 - 6 comments

Video of Jacinda Ardern’s Valedictory speech given today in Parliament.

Much ado about nothing

Written By: - Date published: 8:01 am, December 16th, 2022 - 54 comments

The big news this week was Jacinda Ardern describing David Seymour in an unparliamentary phrase on an open mike in Parliament.  But the matter was resolved in a way that can only happen in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Sharma Sharma Sharma Sharma Sharma Chameleon

Written By: - Date published: 8:31 am, October 19th, 2022 - 74 comments

Gaurav Sharma has announced his immediate resignation from Parliament and that he will contest the by election as leader of a new centrist party.  He also claims that the Government was going to waka jump him six months from the next election but unless National agrees this is impossible.