By Angus Dreaver, RNZ Visual Journalist
Politics can be a dog eat dog world, but these canine companions are bringing smiles to the halls of power.
Watch RNZ's full video report here:
Thanks to the Speaker Trevor Mallard, pooches from all sides of the political spectrum have been making themselves at home in Parliament during recent years.
It has been a howling success, but not without a few hiccups, or accidents along the way.
Frankie the Sound Hound
Eric Waghorn and Frankie Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Frankie, the 7-year-old blue-heeler cross, can be seen walking around the halls with his owner, Parliament's technical lead Eric Waghorn.
Waghorn said he loved having Frankie at work, who made him take breaks, making him more productive.
"He goes to all our meetings and originally when I started bringing him, they said I can't meet with you today because you haven't got the dog," he laughed.
Frankie is an ex-prison dog, who Waghorn later adopted from friends.
He is a hit with the press gallery reporters and politicians alike.
"It doesn't matter what party, they all love him, I think he's popular among the dogs too," he said.
He said he was the most well-behaved at Parliament and could be seen having a snooze during the 1pm Covid-19 briefings on one of the seats at the back.
Although one one occasion, this led to poor Frankie falling of his chair with a thud during one of the media conferences.
"If he just stayed on the floor it would have been fine, but because of the metal tags he wears, he went and had to shake himself awake. I think that was louder than the thud personally!"
Leo the Gentle Giant
Sam Purchas and Leo Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Don't let his big size fool you, Leo the Leonberger is just 15 months old and still has even more growing to do.
His owner, Sam Purchas who works in the ACT Party office, says Leonbergers were bred to look like a lion on the town crest of its namesake.
This large mountain dog may look like a lion, but in reality he is much more timid.
"When I bring him into the office, he'll more or less curl under the desk and be happy in silence most of the day," he said.
Purchas said Leo was not the sort of dog "to go home on a first date."
"He is so striking to look at that everyone wants to pat and talk to him ... He is the reluctant celebrity of Parliament," he said.
He is popular among MPs, especially David Seymour.
"Leo is by far the best dog in Parliament and possibly the whole world," Seymour said.
He said Leo was responsible for the party's first leak, at the expense of Speaker Trevor Mallard.
"He saw Trevor, he just cocked his leg and really just let go."
Ladyhawke the smiley Samoyed
Chris Bishop and Ladyhawke Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Ladyhawke is named after National MP Chris Bishop's political hero, former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke.
"I've seen a lot of Samoyeds and I think Ladyhawke has the best smile of the whole lot," Bishop said.
Ladyhawke even has her own Instagram account.
She can often be seen making her way down the National Party's corridor going door to door and visiting people.
"She loves coming here and she seems to brighten up the place a bit," Bishop said.
This included her interrupting an important strategy meeting with caucus a few months ago.
"We had like 40 people down in the caucus room and she just nuzzled open the door, ran around the room and caused a bit of chaos, that was pretty amusing!"
Herbie the love bug
Greg O'Connor and Herbie Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Nine-year-old cairn terrier poodle cross, Herbie is never short of someone to take him for a walk thanks to his good nature, said Labour MP Greg O'Connor.
"My EA is very good, she will take him for a walk during the day, he's got his regular slots to take him out and have a sniff around the gardens of which there are plenty around Parliament," he said.
Among those who enjoy walking Herbie are the Labour MPs, including Jan Tinetti.
One day, O'Connor accidentally left Herbie behind in one of the lifts, and the he then proceeded to make his way down a couple of flights of stairs and into Tinetti's office.
O'Connor went searching for Herbie, even getting help from security before finding him.
"There he was, sitting at Jan's desk waiting for her to take him [for a walk]."
