Chris Bishop: On keeping a tidy parliament

New goverment, new parliament, new Leader of the House. Chris Bishop is now the Minister responsible for shepherding the Government's legislative agenda. He explains how.

A rare four-week sitting block at Parliament has wound up, with the Government’s programme of moving legislation through under urgency used throughout.

Taming Question Time is not easy but this week the Speaker has attempted to reign in the use of Points of Order to make out of order points.

Due to the increasing demands on the work of the Office of the Clerk in an environment of funding constraints, the efficiency of some key Parliament functions could suffer.

The new Parliament has spent most of its existence under urgency. What is that, and why use it?

The new Parliament has spent much of its time so far, debating under urgency. What is that, and why has it?

This morning’s debates in the chamber provided multiple examples of how difficult it can be as a presiding officer when contentious bills are going through under urgency.

The Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade select committee has been holding its annual review of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Fa’anānā Efeso Collins has been fondly remembered and much praised by his colleagues. Here is his own message; the maiden speech he gave a week ago.

Parliament has paused out of respect for the Green Party MP Efeso Collins who died unexpectedly in Auckland this morning.