Add the Backbencher on

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 6:59 pm

The Government has a notice of motion on the order paper:

3. Hon GERRY BROWNLEE to move, That, pursuant to section 25(1) of the Parliamentary Service Act 2000, this House add the following premises to the parliamentary precincts:

All that part of the mezzanine level of the buildings situated at 1 and 3 The Terrace, Wellington as comprised within Certificates of Title WN41C/804 and WN41C/805, having a net lettable area of 477.2 square metres as more particularly shown on the plan attached to the lease between AMP NZ Office 1 The Terrace Limited and the Parliamentary Corporation, dated 12 August 2009.

Now all we need is an amendment that says:

And all that part of the building situated at 34 Molesworth Street, legally described as Lot 2 DP 318644, having a net area of 493 square metres.

Then MPs can go to the Backbencher without it being regarded as having left the parliamentary precinct (which affects voting in the House).

UPDATE: Sadly the motion has been passed without my Backbencher update, but I can report one amusing exchange passed onto me:

As Gerry was reading it out, Darren Hughes was listening diligently. Gerry reached “having a net lettable area of 477.2 square metres ” and Darren suddenly chirped up with: ”’Aaaah – the member’s pantry.”

Heh.

Tags: ,

Posted in NZ Politics | 16 Comments »

The Blue Baron and Snoopy

Thursday, June 4th, 2009 at 11:39 am

dpf-007

There was a good crowd at the Backbencher last night for the unveilign of the new puppets. John and Bill were cast as the Blue Baron and Snoopy. Was very disturbing as John kept ticking Bill’s stomach (the puppet that is).

Also had Pita Sharples in a waka, and Roger Douglas as Rodney Hide’s puppet master.

John Key joked that he could have done with the machine gun in the plane at around 8 am yesterday. Bill joked about wanting to know about which National MPs had been seen in the Backbencher after Boycie revealed this is where Clark, Wilson and co plotted against Mike Moore.

And as the Dom Post reports, Rodney said:

“The great thing about having Roger Douglas in our caucus is that you get plenty of advice,” Mr Hide said last night.

“The advice is never contradictory because it hasn’t changed in 20 years.”

Afterwards around 60 of us went upstairs to hear about Obama’s first 100 days from a visiting US expert. Thanks to the US Embassy and State Department for helping make it happen. People seemed to enjoy it, and we had a good turnout of MPs.

After that we had Backbenches which was fun also. A good Wednesday night.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Posted in Humour, NZ Politics | 9 Comments »