ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
The Labour Party appeared jaded and rusty on the first day in the parliament, a clear sign of a Party which has been in opposition for three successive terms while conceding its first face-off with the National Party.
The National Party was as sharp and forthcoming as one would expect from a Party which has been in power in the last three terms and still enjoys the privilege of being the single largest political party in the new parliament.
The occasion was about the Speaker vote, which normally is a mundane affair for any new government smarting under a clear majority in the parliament.
However, this was not the case on the first day of the 52nd Parliament, where National has scored a victory over Labour by securing a key concession after threatening to derail the election of Trevor Mallard as Speaker.
The concession was in thwarting Labour’s plan to reduce the number of select committees in the parliament – an attempt to offset the National’s numbers in the parliament.
The Labour Party had earlier announced its intention to reduce the number of Select Committee places to 96 to the discomfort of the National Party which tried raising the flag as an attempt of reducing legislative’s oversight of the executive.
However, the National Party had the last laugh at least for now when it managed to get the nod from the Labour Party for 108 places in Select Committee at the end.
The government appeared under-prepared on its first day in the new Parliament where five of its MPs were absent.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Trade Minister David Parker are on their way to Manila for APEC. Green MP Gareth Hughes was also absent, as were Labour MPs Poto Williams and Kiwi-Indian MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan.
The Indian Weekender has learnt that Ms Radhakrishnan is in Bangladesh attending 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference along with outgoing speaker David Carter.
Meanwhile, National Party Leader Bill English confirmed the deal, saying his party would also get five chair positions.
"The Government came to Parliament disorganised and took the risk of losing the vote of Speaker,” Mr English said.
Mr English had earlier said that National Party would use its size to create "more tension and pressure" in Parliament, saying, "it's not our job to make this place run".
The Labour Party appeared jaded and rusty on the first day in the parliament, a clear sign of a Party which has been in opposition for three successive terms while conceding its first face-off with the National Party.
The National Party was as sharp and forthcoming as one would expect from a Party...
The Labour Party appeared jaded and rusty on the first day in the parliament, a clear sign of a Party which has been in opposition for three successive terms while conceding its first face-off with the National Party.
The National Party was as sharp and forthcoming as one would expect from a Party which has been in power in the last three terms and still enjoys the privilege of being the single largest political party in the new parliament.
The occasion was about the Speaker vote, which normally is a mundane affair for any new government smarting under a clear majority in the parliament.
However, this was not the case on the first day of the 52nd Parliament, where National has scored a victory over Labour by securing a key concession after threatening to derail the election of Trevor Mallard as Speaker.
The concession was in thwarting Labour’s plan to reduce the number of select committees in the parliament – an attempt to offset the National’s numbers in the parliament.
The Labour Party had earlier announced its intention to reduce the number of Select Committee places to 96 to the discomfort of the National Party which tried raising the flag as an attempt of reducing legislative’s oversight of the executive.
However, the National Party had the last laugh at least for now when it managed to get the nod from the Labour Party for 108 places in Select Committee at the end.
The government appeared under-prepared on its first day in the new Parliament where five of its MPs were absent.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Trade Minister David Parker are on their way to Manila for APEC. Green MP Gareth Hughes was also absent, as were Labour MPs Poto Williams and Kiwi-Indian MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan.
The Indian Weekender has learnt that Ms Radhakrishnan is in Bangladesh attending 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference along with outgoing speaker David Carter.
Meanwhile, National Party Leader Bill English confirmed the deal, saying his party would also get five chair positions.
"The Government came to Parliament disorganised and took the risk of losing the vote of Speaker,” Mr English said.
Mr English had earlier said that National Party would use its size to create "more tension and pressure" in Parliament, saying, "it's not our job to make this place run".
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