In times of crisis, the public eye tends to focus on government actions only. But in a democracy, it is imperative to empower parliamentarians to continue their work. In this regard, technology can play a crucial role.
In the New Zealand Parliament, there are 12 subject select committees and 5 specialist committees. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, changes regarding public access had to be put in place. Normally, committee hearings are open to the public. During nationwide lockdowns, they are now livestreamed on the Parliament website and Committee Facebook pages. Also, witnesses and submitters can participate by video conference or teleconference.
To find out how New Zealand’s parliament uses video conferencing to continue its work, please follow this link.