Photo: Davina Zimmer
Lawmakers spend their days arguing with their opposition over decisions that shape our nation, but behind the scenes, there's a bit of room for collegiality
They say opposites attract, and stepping inside Parliament, it's clearly true.
Whether it's Greens' co-leader singing former National member Chester Borrow's praises or Labour's Megan Woods revealing her soft spot for National MP and speaker of the house Gerry Brownlee, behind all the debates and drama, it seems that politicians can get along.
"I think you often only put the bits on TV or in the media that are really controversial," National MP Tim Costley said.
"Yesterday I spent eight or nine hours sitting in a select committee working really constructively to try and improve legislation so that it would deliver for Kiwi communities."
But while some MPs are happy to discuss how well they work with their political opponents, others are quick to add that doesn't mean they're all friends.
"I just think that if you go to Parliament to try and make friends, you've got two problems - why don't you already have friends and second of all, when do you do your work?" Deputy Prime Minister and ACT leader David Seymour said.
In today's episode, The Detail goes inside the Beehive to find out if things are as divided as they seem, and what politicians are really like when the cameras aren't rolling.
"With very few exceptions, most people get on with one another," Labour MP Damian O'Connor said.
O'Connor has several decades of experience when it comes to navigating the political landscape, having begun his political career representing the West Coast-Tasman district in the early nineties.
He said behind the scenes, it's not quite as intense as it looks, and in places like select committees, it's possible to find some common ground.
"There's a lot of agreement, and people are genuinely trying to make better legislation and make improvements that will be enduring.
"If one party pushes too far in government, then the chances are that the next government is going to reverse it, so that seems like a waste of time for most MPs regardless of which side you're on," he said.
Chris Bishop being questioned by journalists before heading into question time. Photo: Davina Zimmer Photo: Davina Zimmer
National MP Tim Costley said "there's lots of nice people" in Parliament. "They just have really bad ideas for running the country."
Costley was hesitant at first to reveal exactly who in the opposition is included in his definition of "nice people", but when pushed for an answer, he came up with a few names.
Labour's Camilla Belich said it was possible to make friends with MPs across the aisle.
"You're human beings, it's really difficult to have that level of animosity when you're working so closely with someone ... we might have a bill that we might be opposing but it's within the interests of the people that we support and represent, even if we oppose the substance of the bill, to make that bill as good as possible," she said.
ACT's Brooke van Velden said she has a "great time with [her] Cabinet colleagues," but when asked if there was anyone in the opposition she considered a friend, she laughed.
"The opposition? Look, I'd have to come back to you because I'm really struggling off the top of my head."
Winston Peters remained tight-lipped when grilled about his cross-party relationships.
"If I trust somebody over there, they'll better trust me if I keep it in confidence," he said.
"There are some people who understand when you shake your hand, you keep your word, and there's some people that don't and behind your back, they backstab you and do everything else."
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