Select Committees

MPs listen to hundreds of Select Committee submissions. But occasionally, like Camilla Belich today, they get to sit on the other side of the table themselves. Audio

This week, RNZ’s Parliament show, The House, focused on the processes and outcomes of Parliament’s Select Committees. The Sunday show is a collation of this content. Audio

The House sits down with retiring MP Trevor Mallard for an insider's view of the tactics and strategy of Parliament, of what has changed, and what still should. Audio

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

The media focus at Parliament was on the impact of leadership, but the legislation told a different story – about the impact of the public. That we can each change the law. Audio

Parliament’s select committees have an endless menu of work, but seem to especially enjoy work that involves extra chewing. Audio

A bill on internet censorship shows why giving advice to Parliament is worth the effort. Select Committees, bills change. Audio

Parliament keeps breaking the records for public feedback. Why are New Zealanders getting involved in Parliament’s nitty gritty? Audio

This week Parliament's House held just a tiny remnant of MPs. So where were the rest of them, what were they doing, and who was working harder?  Audio

How do you have a Parliament without a debating chamber? Go small and go virtual. This week five select committees will question ministers on TV. Audio

For three weeks the Epidemic Response Committee has been grilling Ministers and Officials on their response to Covid-19 but how much power do they actually have? Audio

Parliament’s select committees are surprisingly open and public, but when they go dark to work on outcomes they are meant to stay pitch black. Audio

Making laws is a slow process which can be frustrating but watching it unfold can demonstrate why sprinting through minefields is not recommended.  Audio

Parliament is the forum for public debate, but you can’t wander into the debating chamber and join the MPs in random discussion. You can get pretty close though. Audio

In last week’s kerfuffle over a Select Committee, our constitution apparently changed. Unless people were very wrong.

The House speaks to first-term MPs before and after a few months on select committees to find out if it meets their expectations.  Audio

The number of MPs who will sit on select committees has been reduced, but the Leader of the House, Labour's Chris Hipkins, says all political parties agreed to it in the last Parliament. Video, Audio