Water reforms ditched and digital hitches: Parliament week

In this edition of The House we look back at two of the more important subjects MPs were grappling with this week in the debating chamber and select committees.

One is Parliament's repeal of major water reforms passed last term by the previous government, with the Water Services Acts Repeal Bill being passed through all its stages under urgency. The other concerns the existential crisis facing this country’s news media in a digital market dominated by tech giants, being relayed to the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Select Committee as it heard submissions on the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill.

RNZ Chief Executive Paul Thompson  tells MPs in the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Select Committee about the challenging media landscape while submitting on the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith

Meanwhile, in case you missed it, last Sunday's episode of The House looked at Parliament’s bible, Parliamentary Practice, which has now been updated in a new 2024 edition, explaining all the many rules, practices and precedents that make Parliament tick. Get stuck in.

On the Sunday prior to that, The House explored a new change at Parliament whereby all public hearings of select committees are being live-streamed to Parliament’s own website instead of on Facebook, a move welcomed by advocates of open government.

RNZ’s The House – journalism focussed on parliamentary legislation, issues and insights – is made with funding from Parliament’s Office of the Clerk.