Rnz: The House

The last sitting week of the 53rd Parliament has a fairly packed schedule of government business, plus debate on the Standing Orders Committee's regular report, and the Adjournment Debate.

If there's one group who we don't hear enough about, it's the photographers who cover Parliament. A new exhibition is casting light on five of these practitioners. We talk to two of them.

Among a long week of debates at Parliament, MPs still found the time for farewell speeches from departing colleagues. Todd Muller's stood out and while uncomfortable for his colleagues, it is worth noting.

As more valedictory speeches were heard in Parliament's chamber, a warning was sounded from a departing MP about race baiting and dog whistling to extremism.

It is the second to last sitting week for Parliament but there is still a mountain of bills to get finalised before the MPs wearily trudge home.

The Labour MP for Māngere, Aupito William Sio is leaving Parliament after a sixteen year-stint which encompassed nine years in Opposition bookended by spells in Government.

Parliament has just days left before it ends for the election. The closer dissolution gets, the harder the MPs are pushing to fit everything in - almost like they're cramming four years of legislating into three years.

Valedictory speech season has begun, and if there's a common theme cropping up already, it's a plea for a less toxic style of politics in Parliament.

This week is the first of the last three weeks in the 53rd Parliament, a busy time as the Government still has a lot that it wants to finish before the House rises.

The majority of all female elected representatives across the Pacific Islands region visited Wellington for a development event, showcasing the merits of soft diplomacy, Parliament-style.

This week MPs had a special debate about the report of the Regulations Review Committee on Covid-19 Secondary Legislation.

A new Member's Bill looks to fix a 40-year-old outcome of the anti-Pacific racism of the Dawn Raids era, restoring the right to New Zealand citizenship for a generation of Samoan people.

The Intelligence and Security Committee has received a briefing on long-term national security threats which has incorporated a public survey and public consultation which found New Zealanders perceive threats to national security are increasing.

We're reminded of the important role of the Regulations Review Committee as Parliament this week holds a special debate about the committee's report on Covid-19 regulations.

Todd Muller is leaving Parliament. Known for a brief stint as Opposition leader, he also won plaudits for his bipartisanship and advocating for awareness about mental health.

This week the Government added a morning sitting of the House to 'get stuck into' completing debate on RMA reform. The Opposition just aimed for 'stuck'.

Visitors entering the main entrance to Parliament can finally notice some visual signs of Māori culture and physical recognition of mana whenua.

As MPs count down to the election Parliament's mood changes. The Opposition's House leader Michael Woodhouse predicts "more anger, frivolity, perhaps less discipline". "Perhaps" seems generous.

Five New Zealand MPs from across the political spectrum are visiting Samoa to build relationships within the country - and among themselves.