The debate James Shaw delayed his retirement for

Members Day this week had it all: surprise votes, big and niche issues, success and failure. A bill from a retiring MP led to an environmental rights debate which included gaping philosophical divides and a parting shot.

Some of the Parliament's most interesting and unexpected debates occur on Members' Days - the alternate Wednesdays when the House debates bills put forward by backbenchers, rather than government ministers.

Members Bills range widely, originating from across the parties, and bringing a wider subject range and a broader scope of political philosophy. They sometimes deal with ideas a government might be nervous to champion, or which are so specific no government would quite get around to them.

Listen to a report on this week's members bills from The House

This week's members day included examples of all the above, some unexpected voting, and an unsuccessful attempt at a final legislative hurrah from former Green Party co-leader James Shaw.

The successful bills

The unexpected voting happened on two bills. The Greens surprised National's Stuart Smith with their support during the second reading debate of his bill easing cellar-door tasting rules. The bill isn't done yet, but is finding pretty wide support. It's an example of a niche issue unlikely to catch a government's attention.

The second unexpected voting was on Green MP Teanau Tuiono's bill which was agreed to by every party except the National Party. It would reinstate the possibility of New Zealand citizenship for some now quite elderly Samoans who had their citizenship unilaterally removed by a law passed back in 1982. Unusually that debate was watched by a visiting delegation of Samoan MPs, including the Speaker of Samoa's parliament. That bill will now go to a select committee for public feedback, which I suspect might be both fascinating and emotional.

There was also a small fixit bill from Labour MP Greg O'Connor, which will add more specificity to the requirements made on child sex offender overseas travel reporting. That had unanimous support.

A parting shot: Environment v Economy

The most divergent debate was on James Shaw's bill, which was attempting a first reading. James Shaw had delayed his political retirement to be able to speak on it.

It would add another right to those guaranteed by the New Zealand Bill of Rights (an aspect of New Zealand's constitution). That "everyone has the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment." James Shaw said that around "about 80 percent of countries around the world already recognise this right in their domestic legal systems" …

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details