The end of the year is often a time of reflection and Parliament does something similar in its own way.
The Social Services and Community Select Committee conducts and annual review of Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children Photo: VNP / Daniela Maoate-Cox
Ministry and crown entity officials have been appearing before select committees for an annual review.
Select committees are small groups of cross-party MPs which consider bills, and petitions, hear from the public, and conduct inquiries or annual reviews.
Chief Executive of Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children Grainne Moss speaks to the Social Services and Community Committee at Parliament Photo: VNP / Daniela Maoate-Cox
The annual reviews are part of Parliament's financial scrutiny cycle and a way for Parliament (and the MPs) to give a Ministry a performance review asking questions about their practices, and future plans.
Whakaari/White Island - Ministerial statement
A view of Whakaari/White Island from the air as a helicopter approaches. Photo: Supplied/Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust
There are a few official means at Parliament for which MPs can acknowledge events and last week the eruption of Whakaari/White Island was regularly mentioned.
The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made a ministerial statement which is an official way for a Minister to inform the House of Representatives of something important.
Statements have been made on the outbreak of war and during to keep the House up to date. They’ve also been used to tell the House about natural disasters and civil defence emergencies like the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake and on Tuesday last week: the eruption of Whakaari/White Island.
The leader of a party with six or more MPs can respond to the statement if they like and Deputy Leader of the National Party Paula Bennett responded on behalf of the Party's leader Simon Bridges.
After question time on Wednesdays in the House, a general debate is held and many of the MPs used all or part of their allotted five minute time slot to talk about the eruption.
"I went over to the eastern part of my electorate and I jumped out of the car. And what I realised was that I was standing at White Island Tours with a bunch of people there," Labour MP Tamati Coffey said.
"I had no idea when I pulled up that actually they were people who had come straight off the boat, that had been rescued by the boats, and had been put back to safety there. They were dazed. They were confused. They didn't know what was going on. And they had seen things that they weren't obviously ready to share."
National MP Todd Muller also used his speech to share his condolences.
"That is an incredibly difficult situation that people—in many cases, visitors to our country—have found themselves in. I acknowledge all those who are part of the comfort that the collective Aotearoa are wrapping around these people—thank you for your efforts."
A Ministerial Statement and General Debate are not ways to enact legislation or policy changes but what is said does go on the official records of Parliament.
