Parliament embraces social media

Christchurch’s Tandem has delivered another world first with the launch of www.inthehouse.co.nz - an innovative website which has totally changed the way Kiwis interact with their politicians and discover the business of Parliament.

Video coverage from the House is now available 24/7 via the website and YouTube. Inthehouse.co.nz also incorporates a number of online social media applications, such as Facebook and Twitter, making it interactive and meaning politicians are accessible in a way they’ve never been before. Already, universities, bloggers and news-sites have utilised this tool, making the inthehouse YouTube channel the second-most watched in the country last week – with over 20,000 views.

Built for Parliament’s Clerk of the House, as part of a contract to make Parliament more accessible to New Zealanders, www.inthehouse.co.nz makes it much easier to search and view relevant footage of specific issues without having to watch the entire live television broadcast. Using You Tube means that anyone, anywhere can share and place the video segments into their blog, website or social media channel.

Tandem Director, Dave Dunlay says, “We reformat and repurpose Parliament’s traditional content and present it in small searchable segments. The website means, for the first time, you can view and hear your local politician in action without having to watch the entire programme.”

Dunlay says the social media space has evolved very quickly and creating engaging content is vital. “To capture an online audience all content must engage, entertain, connect and inform.

“We’re very excited about the In the House website and already it has proved to be a great asset, and a wonderful communication tool that New Zealanders are already embracing.

“Tandem has been working in the online space since 2005 and are focused on being New Zealand’s leading creators of content for today’s multi-media channels,” says Dunlay.

Please note that Parliament returns today from 2pm (Tues’ March 30) for the final week before Easter and a two week break.

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