Phil Smith

The House - A new bill would remove governments' power to determine funding levels for Parliament, the body that scrutinises its performance. Audio

The House - The opposition has rediscovered a long-disused tactic, and recently used it to protest the government curtailing the time spent considering legislation in select committees. Audio

One vestige of the pre-MMP era is the term 'leader of the opposition' - but why does the term still exist, and what does the leader do? Audio

Even when ministers are trying not to answer questions, they frequently give away a lot of information, writes Phil Smith for The House. Audio

The House - Parliament met briefly today, and only to offer respects to the late Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII. Audio

Petitions often touch on very human stories, or on tricky philosophical issues. This week, one threw explosive new information into an already contentious debate.

Parliament's Question Time is a slow-moving boxing match with many rounds. This week one boxer's second stepped into the ring to help. They didn't throw in the towel, but they did try to stop the…

A dispute during Question Time this week was packed with lessons on asking questions in Parliament, and especially how not to answer them.

The House began a new sitting block sharing a little love over the Paris Olympics results, but the sudden outbreak of amity didn't last.

Few people think MPs never lie, so why are they seldom punished? We investigate Parliament’s rules on mistakes, fibs, and perfidious calumny.

The censure of an MP this week came with a message about how to handle provocation - keep it vocal.

Behind many MP interviews is an incessant ringing. It’s like parliament itself has tinnitus, or is trying to drown out its inhabitants. What is that noise?

This week in Parliament the Government's coalition partner antics upended National’s plans and illustrated how not to create message discipline.

Like an uncooperative student flat Parliament relies on rosters to organise who gets to speak when. Lots of rosters. And like that flat it probably stops squabbles.

The House looks at two of the major bills this week: one walking back law on Maori wards, and one seeking new ways to show 'tough on gangs'.

The moment the Abuse in Care Report was tabled in Parliament MPs began debating what it means and how to respond. 

An embarrassing kerfuffle in Parliament's debating chamber on Wednesday provided fun lessons on how the House works; or at least, how it is meant to work.

The House chats with Kieran McAnulty about a recent trip which included visits with the Clerks of the Scottish and Uk Parliaments.

Ever wanted a job that combines a very public tight-rope walk with solving fiendish puzzles? Helping The Leader of the House wrangle Parliament’s Order Paper is just the thing. 

Lobbyists are often portrayed as political bogeymen (or women). But what do they actually do and how? The House chats with two of them.

There is new research on how Parliament's rules change, and the researcher gets to observe that change very closely – Parlament's Clerk of the House.

Parliament tussled through another long week of urgency, and more besides. The House weekend edition has a stormy debate on ferries, five new bills for comment, and submissions on restoring Samoan…

Parliament is hearing submissions on a bill that would create a route to restore NZ citizenship for those Samoans who had that right removed in 1982. 

Parliament had another week of urgency and a new list of bills. Five now need public feedback on things ranging from charter schools, and medicine regulations, to three strikes sentencing.

Parliament’s urgent debate on the recent ferry grounding was a rollicking ride, and you might say the Speaker was to blame.