The difference between Parliament and Government

There is often confusion about the difference between the institutions of Parliament and Government or the difference between Parliament and the House of Representatives. These are not interchangeable terms. Each has very distinct functions.

New Zealand Business and Parliament Trust seminar

The New Zealand Business and Parliament Trust is a strictly non-partisan educational charity dedicated to advancing and encouraging the business community's understanding of Parliament, and parliamentarians' understanding of the business community.

Estimates debate

When the House resumes on Tuesday 2 August, the Government intends to commence the Estimates debate. This is an 8-hour debate on the Government’s spending plans for the financial year (the ‘Estimates’). The Budget process involves scrutiny of the Estimates and, ultimately, their approval by Parliament through the passing of the main Appropriation Bill for the year—the Appropriation (2011/12 Estimates) Bill. The Estimates are a key mechanism for ensuring parliamentary oversight of the spending of public money.

Disclosure of expenses claimed by members of Parliament

Expenses claimed by members of Parliament for the 3 months from 1 April 2011 to 30 June 2011 have been released.

Parliamentary press gallery hosting Ian Templeton Scholar

The parliamentary press gallery has a temporary addition this week, Brook Sabin from 3News. Brook is the latest Ian Templeton scholar.

Parliament and the general election

A general election and a referendum on the voting system are expected to take place on 26 November. Before then, the current Parliament (the forty-ninth New Zealand Parliament) will come to an end. A new Parliament will meet no more than 6 weeks after the official election result has been announced.

Young New Zealander to attend Commonwealth Youth Parliament in London

Michael Bendall, a 23-year-old law and commerce student at the University of Canterbury, has been chosen to represent New Zealand at the Fourth Commonwealth Youth Parliament (CYP) in London on 6-10 September.

Condolence book for former Governor-General Sir Paul Reeves

A condolence book has been set up in the main foyer of Parliament House, in memory of The Rt Reverend and The Honourable Sir Paul Reeves, GCMG, GCVO, QSO, KStJ.

Sir Paul was Governor-General of New Zealand from 1985 to 1990.

State farewell for the Governor-General

The Governor-General, The Right Honourable Sir Anand Satyanand, and Lady Susan Satyanand, were farewelled at Parliament on Wednesday 17 August 2011.

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Parliamentary privilege

The concept of parliamentary privilege is often misunderstood to mean that politicians acquire personal privileges simply by being elected to Parliament. In fact, parliamentary privilege applies to Parliament as a whole rather than the individual members. It enables the House of Representatives, as the democratically elected House of the people, to go about its business, such as lawmaking, without interference from outside.

Swearing in of Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae as Governor-General

On Wednesday, 31 August 2011, Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae will be sworn in as Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of the Realm of New Zealand. The ceremony will take place (weather permitting) on the steps of Parliament House from 11.30 a.m. Members of the public are invited to view this special State occasion from the lawn in front of Parliament House.

The origins of the Māori seats

The seven Māori seats are a distinctive feature of the New Zealand Parliament. They date back to the Maori Representation Act 1867, which created four Māori seats.

Parliament and rugby

Parliament has a long and enduring association with the game of rugby. Charles Monro, who introduced the game into the country in 1870, was the son of the second Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Sir David Monro. Charles Monro organised the first game of rugby ever in this country, held on 14 May 1870 at the Nelson Botanical Reserve.

Parliament’s reminder of 9/11

September 11 is the tenth anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center in New York. Parliament has its own reminder of the events of that day—a New Zealand flag that was pulled from the rubble during recovery efforts at ground zero.

Earthquake resilience of Parliament Buildings

Parliament House and the Parliamentary Library are strengthened by a special engineering system of base isolation to make sure the buildings can withstand an earthquake of up to 7.5 on the Richter scale. The process of separating the two buildings from their original foundation and installing lead-rubber bearings was carried out between 1992 and 1995, during what was at that time the biggest strengthening and modernising project ever undertaken in New Zealand.

Tour artworks at Parliament

Join a guided tour of some of Parliament's many and varied artworks as part of Wellington's Spring Festival.

Valedictory (farewell) statements

In the two remaining sitting weeks of the current Parliament, 15 retiring members of Parliament will be making valedictory (farewell) statements. While traditionally these speeches would have been made during the last debate before the House rose for the election, the number of members wishing to make such statements has led the Business Committee to allocate specific times for them. Starting 27 September, these valedictories will be delivered during the hour before the 6 p.m. dinner break.

Committee reports on the review of Standing Orders

Extended sitting hours for the House, mechanisms for promoting proposed Members’ bills, and a proposal that a select committee inquire into how Parliament can best make law in response to national emergencies are amongst the recommendations in the 2011 Review of Standing Orders.

Commonwealth youth parliamentarians meet at Westminster

Members of the United Kingdom’s House of Commons and House of Lords sat together on the red benches of the House of Lords to listen to speeches made by delegates to the Fourth Commonwealth Youth Parliament, held in London on 6-10 September. Michael Bendall, a final-year law and commerce student at the University of Canterbury, represented New Zealand at the youth parliament. He joined more than a hundred young people from throughout the Commonwealth at the event, which was organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.