If you have ever caught part of a parliamentary debate on the nightly news, chances are you have heard someone refer to "Mr/Madame Speaker", but have you ever wondered what the role of the speaker is exactly? Politics from the Moon caught up with the Rt Hon (Right Honourable) Trevor Mallard MP (pictured left), Speaker of the NZ House of Representatives (Parliament).
Trevor Mallard is a politician and member of the New Zealand Labour Party who is the 30th and current Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives. Currently a list MP, he formerly represented the constituencies of Hutt South from 1996 to 2017; Pencarrow from 1993 to 1996; and Hamilton West from 1984 to 1990.
Trevor was a Cabinet minister in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand (1999 to 2008) holding the portfolios of Environment, Labour, Broadcasting, State Owned Enterprises, Rugby World Cup, Education and Associate Finance.
Listen as Trevor talks to us about his role as both an MP and as Speaker of the House, what the NZ Parliament has done to make it unique among many western parliaments and what his proudest moment has been since taking public office.
If you would like to learn more about the role of the Speaker in the NZ Parliament, the Parliamentary service and the Parliamentary Library, you can do so via their website: www.parliament.nz and if you want to learn more about Trevor Mallard's activities as Speaker you can follow him on social media:
FB: @RtHonTrevorMallard
Insta: @Speakertrevormallard
Twitter: @Speakertrevor