New Zealand Parliament, Lawmaking, and Representation Study Guide Notes on Representation

Course Announcements and Guest Speaker Introductions

• Campus Atmosphere: The lecturer noted a vibrant campus atmosphere, with student attendance and lecturer feedback suggesting a return to "pre-COVID levels."
• Upcoming Guest Speakers:     * Honourable Chris Bishop: Scheduled to speak the following day. He is a high-ranking minister in the current government.     * Educational Objective: The goal of inviting speakers from various parties (such as the National Party and Labour Party) is to provide an educational experience focused on policy and governance rather than mere partisan campaigning.     * Previous Speakers: The course recently hosted Doctor David Wilson and Honourable Barbara Edmonds.

He Tohu Assignment and National Library Access

• National Library of New Zealand: Students are encouraged to visit the National Library for the He Tohu assignment.     * Accessibility: The building is public and funded by taxes. It is described as having "brutalist architecture."     * Operating Hours: Opens at $10\,\text{AM}$ and closes at $5\,\text{PM}$. (Caution: Security may be more restrictive after $4:30\,\text{PM}$).     * Guided Tours: Free lunchtime guided tours are available every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from $12\,\text{PM}$ to $1\,\text{PM}$.
• Assignment Submission: Students are asked to provide a selfie at the location to prove attendance. Alternatives include showing the photo to a tutor or bringing a physical pamphlet if uncomfortable with photos.

Review of Guest Lectures: Barbara Edmonds and David Wilson

• Honourable Barbara Edmonds (Labour MP):     * Personal Background: She is a mother of eight children, which students noted as an impressive personal accomplishment alongside her career.     * Professional Background: Before entering Parliament, she was a pro bono lawyer for a local rugby club and served on school boards of representatives.     * Pathway to Politics: She entered politics after receiving multiple calls from community members, including after Chris Fa'afoi announced his departure from Parliament. Her entry was described as driven by community investment rather than being a "political junkie."
• Doctor David Wilson (Clerk of the House):     * Role: Serves as the principal advisor to the Speaker and the House.     * Perspective: Though initially not particularly interested in Parliament, he has become one of its strongest champions.     * Mentions: A photo of David Wilson features Sir Jeffrey Palmer in the background, taken during a select committee session.
• The Maiden Speech: The first speech a politician gives in Parliament.     * Utility: These speeches are useful for understanding a politician's values and intentions.     * Examples: Comparisons between Jacinda Ardern’s maiden speech and her valedictory (final) speech provide insight into how a politician's views evolve or stay consistent over time. Transcripts and videos are available on the Parliament website.

Sample Test Questions for Guest Lectures

• Question 1: What is the role of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and what are some specific expectations of that role?
• Question 2: Based on David Wilson’s talk, what kind of institution is Parliament, and how does this classification affect the navigation of internal politics?
• Question 3: What is the distinction between list and electorate MPs, and why do they hold different types of power within their respective parties?

The Legislative Process and Pathways to Lawmaking

• Primary Function: Parliament's primary role is as a lawmaking institution.
• Unicameralism: New Zealand has a single-house system, meaning there are no further legislative houses to act as a check once a bill passes.
• Standard Seven-Stage Process: This consists of multiple readings and committee stages. A bill only becomes the "law of the land" once it receives Royal Assent (the signature of the Governor-General).
• Entrenched Provisions: Most laws require a simple majority ($50\% + 1$) to pass. However, the Electoral Act 1993 contains entrenched provisions (such as the frequency of elections) that require either a nationwide referendum or a supermajority of $\frac{3}{4}$ ($75\%$) of MPs to change.
• The Slow Pathway (By Design):     * Allows time for affected parties to comment.     * Provides opportunity for amendments to prevent unintended side effects.     * Ensures democratic legitimacy by incorporating public feedback.

Urgency in Lawmaking (The Fast Pathway)

• Purpose: Intended for emergencies or extraordinary circumstances.
• Examples:     * Christchurch Earthquakes: Used to pass legislation for immediate recovery and repair funds.     * Christchurch Terrorist Attacks: Used to pass gun control legislation "extraordinarily quickly."
• The Mechanics of Urgency:     * Extending the sitting hours of the House.     * Removing the Select Committee process (the most controversial aspect, as it skips public participation).     * Removing the Committee of the Whole House stage (used for corrections).
• Transparency and the OIA: Journalist Marc Daalder used the Official Information Act (OIA) to request documents regarding the government's use of urgency.

The Attorney General’s Warning on Urgency

• Current Attorney General: Honourable Judith Collins.
• The Letter (March 25, 2024): Written by Collins to the Prime Minister and Cabinet.     * Content: Reminded colleagues that regulatory decisions must be based on data, evidence, and sound policy principles.     * Defense of Process: She highlighted that Select Committees are vital for public participation, legitimacy, and "testing and refining" legislation to avoid errors.     * The "100 Days" Pressure: The lecturer noted that political pressure to achieve goals within the first "100 days" often drives Cabinets to rush legislation through urgency.

Representation and Diversity in Parliament

• Direct Representation (Electorate MPs): Elected by geographic regions. They are directly accountable to local voters (e.g., Tamatha Paul for Wellington Central).
• Party List Representation (List MPs): Not tied to a geography. Often chosen for subject-matter expertise (e.g., Ayesha Verrall in health).
• Caucus Groups: Informal but powerful groups within parties based on identity or interest, such as the Māori Caucus in the Labour Party.
• MMP and Diversity Statistical Trends:     * 1993 (Last FPP Election): Significant lack of diversity.     * 2020 Parliament: Achieved gender parity ($50\%$); $21\%$ Māori descent; $9\%$ Pasifika; $9\%$ non-Pakeha.     * 2023 Dip: Diversity metrics decreased following the 2023 election. National MP Cameron Brewer commented in his victory speech that "Stale pale males are back."
• Academic Resources: The lecturer recommends Te Ara (The Encyclopedia of New Zealand) as a high-quality peer-reviewed source for assignments.

Parliamentary Parties and Discipline

• Whips and Musterers:     * Role: Responsible for counting votes and ensuring party members (the caucus) act in accordance with party interests.     * Location: Offices are strategically located near the debating chamber.     * Voting: In New Zealand, the Whip often casts votes "en masse" for the entire party rather than each MP voting individually.
• Party Discipline: Very strong in NZ. "Crossing the floor" to vote against one's party is rare and usually leads to leaving the party.
• Historical Breakaway Example: Tariana Turia left the Labour Party over the Foreshore and Seabed legislation to form the Māori Party (now Te Pāti Māori) because she could not, in good conscience, support the bill while remaining in Labour.
• Funding and Size: Parties are partially publicly funded. After the 2023 election, party sizes range from $6$ to $49$ MPs.

Roadmap for Future Lectures

• Executive Government: Next week’s guest lecturer is Doctor Chris Eichbaum, an expert on executive government in New Zealand.
• Upcoming Focus: The course will transition from Parliament (the Legislature) to the Executive branching.