Podcasts about parliament's speaker

The Speaker's role and approach are crucial to Parliament's good functioning. Gerry Brownlee has outlined to MPs what approach he will take in enforcing Parliament's rules regarding Question Time.

Parliament's Speaker has confirmed Meka Whaitiri will move to Te Pati Maori and legally remain a member of parliament as an independent. He's refused calls from the National Party and ACT for communications between Ms Whaitiri and the Speaker to be disclosed, but did explain that her message did not meet the definition requiring her to be expelled from Parliament. National's shadow leader of the house Michael Woodhouse has said Whaitiri has no moral authority to stay in her Ikaroa-Rawhiti seat. He spoke to Corin Dann.

Meka Whaitiri's explosive exit from Labour is still rocking Parliament - as Opposition MPs call on her to give up her seat altogether. Parliament's Speaker though has reaffirmed the renegade can stay on as an MP - and will be regarded as an independent. Here's our deputy political editor Craig McCulloch.

Chris Hipkins has taken steps to ensure there's more transparency around the current lobbying system. Hipkins has written to Parliament's Speaker to revoke swipe cards from lobbyists and requested that they develop a voluntary code of conduct, with assistance from the Ministry of Justice. Saunders Unsworth lobbyist Mark Unsworth says he's not going to miss his swipe card access- and isn't opposed to a code of conduct either. Mark Unsworth says consultant lobbyists like himself only make up 20 percent of the lobbying operating in New Zealand, and it's unclear if the code of conduct will just impact that 20 percent. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federal Police and Parliament's Speaker are refusing to say why a prominent anti-Beijing activist, Drew Pavlou, was ordered to leave the building or risk facing arrest yesterday.

Federal Police and Parliament's Speaker are refusing to say why a prominent anti-Beijing activist, Drew Pavlou, was ordered to leave the building or risk facing arrest yesterday.

Parliament's Speaker has asked an independent investigator to find out if there's less bullying and harassment since her last inquiry. In 2018, Debbie Francis found systemic problems at Parliament, with toxic behaviour and in some cases sexual assault. She's now investigating what's changed since and will interview MPs and staff. Here's political reporter Katie Scotcher.

Trevor Mallard is safe in his job as Parliament's Speaker for now - with the Prime Minister continuing to express her support. The Speaker performed a major backdown yesterday - withdrawing five trespass notices sent to former MPs - including the former deputy PM Winston Peters. The Opposition parties say the notices should not have been issued in the first place - and are yet another reason for Mallard to go. Here's our deputy political editor Craig McCulloch.

Parliament's Speaker has performed a major about-turn, dropping the trespass orders he'd slapped on Winston Peters and four other former MPs. The former Deputy Prime Minister yesterday revealed he'd received a letter barring him from Parliament for two years due to his attendance at February's protest. He threatened legal action - Trevor Mallard has now backed down. Here's our deputy political editor Craig McCulloch.

Parliament's Speaker is on a mission to stop workplace bullying and improve behaviour, even that of the ‘staff' who can't be fired.

Trevor Mallard's predecessor is telling him to grow up.David Carter, Parliament's Speaker during the last National-led government, has lashed out at Mallard's handling of the Parliamentary protest.Anti-mandate protestors are into the seventh day of their rally on the grounds of Parliament.Mallard's had sprinklers on, and blasted them with some of the world's most hated songs in an attempt to move them on.Police say they don't endorse the tactics.Carter told Kate Hawkesby it doesn't do anything for New Zealand's reputation on the international stage.“Which is in tatters frankly. We had the Charlotte Bellis incident three weeks ago, and now New Zealand's in the international headlines because we have a Speaker acting in a boorish, childish way.”LISTEN ABOVE

The Defence Minister says a Hercules loaded with aid supplies is ready to fly to Tonga today now the main island's runway has been cleared of ash. Relief efforts have begun following the country's major volcanic eruption and tsunami -- but the scale of the clean-up and recovery operation remains unknown. Two New Zealand naval ships carrying critical aid are already en route to the tsunami-hit islands. A third ship is preparing to leave. Tonga's Speaker of Parliament Lord Fakafanua, who is stranded in Auckland, talks to Max Towle about the recovery efforts.

While the National Party was in the throes of its leadership crisis last Wednesday night, Parliament's Speaker had hours earlier taken the highly unusual step of lambasting the Labour government over the way it rushed through the far reaching traffic light system legislation, under urgency. The law that seriously curbs the freedom of unvaccinated people was rushed through in a 24-hour urgent session in order to be passed in time to take effect this week. The Speaker Trevor Mallard, himself a Labour MP, said the Government and the House had failed to fully scrutinise the bill. He made a specific ruling before the third reading debate started on the COVID-19 Response (Vaccinations) Legislation Bill yesterday, to lodge the criticism. One of a raft of critics of the way the legislation was rushed through is constitutional and public law lecturer Dean Knight, Associate Professor at Victoria University of Wellington School of Law. He tells Kathryn it is a 'constitutional disgrace.' She also speaks with litigator and public law specialist Andrew Butler.

While the National Party was in the throes of its leadership crisis last Wednesday night, Parliament's Speaker had hours earlier taken the highly unusual step of lambasting the Labour government over the way it rushed through the far reaching traffic light system legislation, under urgency. The law that seriously curbs the freedom of unvaccinated people was rushed through in a 24-hour urgent session in order to be passed in time to take effect this week. The Speaker Trevor Mallard, himself a Labour MP, said the Government and the House had failed to fully scrutinise the bill. He made a specific ruling before the third reading debate started on the COVID-19 Response (Vaccinations) Legislation Bill yesterday, to lodge the criticism. One of a raft of critics of the way the legislation was rushed through is constitutional and public law lecturer Dean Knight, Associate Professor at Victoria University of Wellington School of Law. He tells Kathryn it is a 'constitutional disgrace.' She also speaks with litigator and public law specialist Andrew Butler.

The Speaker is the guardian, champion and referee of parliamentary process, but he also coaches the foot soldiers in the arts of battle - individually or en masse.

The Speaker is the guardian, champion and referee of parliamentary process, but he also coaches the foot soldiers in the arts of battle - individually or en masse.

National Party leader Judith Collins says a trip by the Prime Minister to locked-down Tāmaki Makaurau is long overdue. Jacinda Ardern is expected to visit Auckland next week, now Parliament's Speaker has dropped strict isolation rules. Previously MPs returning to Parliament were required to self-isolate for five days upon return. Now they only need a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours before returning to Wellington.   Collins welcomed the move, and told Morning Report the Aucklanders she's met with during the lockdown struggling. "I don't think it's a universal feeling in Wellington, but I do think it's easier to forget Auckland if you never have to come here. "I've spent four weeks of the last three months in Auckland, and when I go and visit people, small businesses and that and I try and cheer them up and give them some hope, you see people who are really resilient people just at the end of their tether. Watching people in tears, I would say is one it's really, really hard." Ardern told Morning Report on Monday she had Auckland on the mind constantly but going there would have affected her ability to do her job in Wellington upon her return. "If I were to travel to Auckland, that takes me out of being able to come back to Parliament for five days because of the rules of the way Parliament is working. So I have looked at it. It does impact on my accountability in the debating chamber. It impacts on my ability to front before the media, and in a practical sense if I were to travel there the most likely groups I would meet with, our health team and business leaders I've been doing remotely anyway and in order to meet with them would likely be breaking some of the rules we expect others to follow. "Those are my considerations. I do need to make sure I'm running the response though and not doing anything that curtails my ability to continue to lead the response." Collins said the self-isolation requirement wasn't easy, but she had managed to do it. Ultimately their removal is a good thing though. "These rules that have been put in place for Parliament, they're being lifted now when Auckland's got more Covid than what it had three months ago. "It has made it very difficult, but ultimately, I think she [Jacinda Ardern] will get a lot out of a visit to Auckland, and I say it's a good thing for her to do that."

An employment law expert believes if Parliament's Speaker does ban unvaccinated people from the precinct, it could set a precedent for other workplaces. The strict rules are being considered by Parliament's top brass. It comes as the government prepares advice for businesses on 'no jab, no job' policies. RNZ political reporter Katie Scotcher reports.

An employment law expert believes if Parliament's Speaker does ban unvaccinated people from the precinct, it could set a precedent for other workplaces. The strict rules are being considered by Parliament's top brass. It comes as the government prepares advice for businesses on 'no jab, no job' policies. RNZ political reporter Katie Scotcher reports.

Another week, another tiff between a National MP and Parliament's Speaker.During Question Time, Paul Goldsmith argued with Trevor Mallard who wasn't allowing the MP to continue his line of questioning.Mallard told Parliament it was time to move on, before Goldsmith stood up and stormed out.Fellow National MP Simon Bridges also left the chamber, and called Mallard a twat on the way out. Mallard is unruffled by the latest spat between him and the Opposition. "I don't react to Mr Bridges, to Mr Bennett, Mr Brownlee, Mr Bishop, or to any of the things they've done recently in the House."Speaking to Heather du Plessis-Allan, Goldsmith says it's not his style to put labels on the Speaker.He says he didn't hear fellow MP Simon Bridges call Trevor Mallard a twat - after a spat between Goldsmith and Trevor Mallard in the House.Goldsmith says he has absolute respect for the office of the Speaker - and all he wants to do is get some clear answers out of Ministers during Question Time.He says National does its best."But it's a pretty robust environment, and when you're cut off and you're not able to ask questions because you've broken some little rule, then you're held back."

Parliament's Speaker, Trevor Mallard, is expected to appear before a select committee on Wednesday to be questioned about a costly legal dispute.Mallard last week publicly apologised for comments he made in which he wrongly claimed an accused rapist was working on Parliament's premises.A staffer was stood down and then launched defamation proceedings, which were later revealed to have cost the taxpayer more than $330,000.Both National and ACT have declared they have lost confidence in the Speaker and have called for his resignation as they believe he is no longer fit for the role.This morning, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Morning Report over the years Opposition parties had claimed no confidence in the Speaker and "unfortunately, it tips into the political from time to time"."I have confidence in the Speaker. Clearly, he has made a mistake and he himself is open about that."On this particular issue, the Speaker himself, I'm advised, was aware that a select committee may choose to ask him to come and answer questions. He has proactively contacted the chair to arrange a time."Governance and administration select committee chair and National MP, Barbara Kuriger, said Mallard rang her late yesterday to confirm he was willing to attend the meeting.Kuriger said the Clerk of the House was in the process of organising the selection committee meeting for Wednesday."We need to send a letter to the Speaker from me as the chair, inviting the Speaker to attend the meeting, to which we would expect his reply given that he has already notified me that he is willing to attend."Then tomorrow we will have some further discussions with the clerk around the process of how the meeting will work."She said she was not going to pre-empt anything but there were questions that National wanted answered about the cost and how it was paid.Text by By Charlie Dreaver of RNZ

The National Party's lost faith in Parliament's Speaker of the House, after revelations more than $330,000 tax-payer dollars were spent on his legal bill.It follows defamation action brought by a sacked Parliamentary staffer who Speaker Trevor Mallard wrongly labelled a rapist.Political editor Barry Soper says it's the biggest travesty he's seen during his time in Parliament.Soper says Mallard was pinned into a corner when National demanded to know the cost.He says the National Party will put up a vote of no confidence next year."Can you imagine Labour having to defend and support a man like Trevor Mallard?"This is the party that preaches well-being and kindness. How can Labour support somebody like Trevor Mallard, who has put this man through all this."LISTEN ABOVE

We welcome questions from VoterTorque listeners sent via the contacts page at Torquepoint.co.nz . This episode is the first round of questions covering Parliament's Speaker, media treatment of political polls, big versus small parties and the terms 'Right Honourable' and 'Honourable.'

We welcome questions from VoterTorque listeners sent via the contacts page at Torquepoint.co.nz . This episode is the first round of questions covering Parliament's Speaker, media treatment of political polls, big versus small parties and the terms 'Right Honourable' and 'Honourable.'