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- Engage-in-Brief: 25 August 2025
Engage-in-Brief: 25 August 2025
Holly Bennett
August 25, 2025
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TWO TRICKS TO TRY
The Business Committee is a specialist select committee responsible for setting the agenda of Parliament’s sitting week. With members from every party in Parliament, the committee usually meets on Tuesday afternoons. It determines things such as the order of business, speaking allocations, whether there will be extended hours, timing of special debates, and lots more — including Parliament’s annual sitting calendar! It’s also responsible for deciding the size and membership of select committees. Business Committee determinations are usually published on Wednesday morning during a sitting week, and they’re a great way to learn about what Parliament will be looking at in the days and weeks ahead.
Immediately before the first, second, or third reading of a Government bill begins, the Minister in charge of the bill may present a legislative statement, letting them put detailed information on the record about what their bill is intended to achieve. The idea is that, by doing so, the Minister will be able to participate in a more engaging and off-the-cuff debate rather than reading out a pre-written speech — while still clearly explaining the legislative intent. We’ll leave the judgment on whether or not this has worked as intended up to the reader, but reading a legislative statement is one of the quickest ways to learn what a bill is meant to achieve. You can find recent legislative statements on Parliament’s website.
ONE THING YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Standing Orders are essentially Parliament’s rulebook — they set out how parliamentary proceedings should be carried out, and make sure that all parliamentary processes allow for proper consideration before final decisions are made.
But only Parliament can tell Parliament how to behave, which means that it’s responsible for writing its own rules — and that’s where the Standing Orders Committee comes in. The committee is responsible for updating the rulebook to make sure Aotearoa has a modern Parliament that functions efficiently and effectively.
A new edition of Standing Orders is usually produced at the beginning of each new Parliament, based on a review carried out at the end of the previous Parliament — and the 2026 review has just begun! Although the public don’t usually get much say in how Parliament operates, the Standing Orders Committee has called for public input on the House's rules and practices to help it consider how Parliament could work more effectively.
Submissions can be about any of the House's rules and practices. However, the Standing Orders Committee has decided that this year’s review will focus especially on:
1. Financial scrutiny
2. Legislative scrutiny
3. International treaties
So if you’ve got an idea for how Parliament might do scrutiny weeks better, or if you have thoughts about how the select committee submissions process could be improved, now’s your chance to be heard! Submissions are open until Thursday 25 September, which means you’ve got one month left to get your thoughts in order and tell the committee what you think.
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FROM OUR TAUIRA
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ONE FUNNY THING
This week’s Funny Thing comes courtesy of Question Time on Thursday 21 August, and is a timely reminder that a well placed prop can really help to engage an audience!
It’s not uncommon for MPs to use visual aids when they’re talking in the House — there’s actually a rule about it! Under Standing Order 113, MPs are allowed to use visual aids only as long as they’re not inconvenient or obstructive, and they have to be removed from the Chamber at the end of the speech. Typically a helicopter might be considered obstructive (size of course!) but not the one used by Hon. Judith Collins KC! While Hon. Paul Goldsmith spun the rotors, what we really want to know is did it find its way to the Speaker?!
That’s it for another edition of Engage-in-Brief! Remember, you have a voice and you can use it. If you need training to support your advocacy efforts simply reply to this email.
Mauri ora!
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