For the students of parliament, public law or politics, the best place to be right in the heart of the legislative chamber, but kind of invisible. In other words, part of the Chamber Operations team.
If you're looking to learn about Parliament, public law or politics, the best place to be is in the legislative chamber during sittings of Parliament. Right there in the mix of things, but kind of invisible.
In other words, you'd be in the Chamber Operations team, a small group managed by the Serjeant-at-Arms who are always on hand to ensure parliament is able to conduct its business smoothly.
Finn Meredith is 22. He's a Law and Politics Student, and for him the Chamber Officer job is ideal. He applied for the position after his older brother - who had done the same job while studying the same degree - left university.
"We make sure that the House and the debating chamber when it's sitting, we just facilitate and make sure that it goes smoothly. If there are notes that need to be passed around by the members, that's what we do, or if there are documents that need to be put on the table, amendments and what not, then it's our job to make sure the right documents are at the right place at the right time," he explained.
"So we have seats in the chamber, and you have to keep your eyes darting all over the place. Our number one priority is making sure the Clerk is bgin looked after, because they're kind of in charge, and then it's the Speaker. After that we're just looking around the MPs, and they will put their hand up or something if they need us."
When Parliament kicks off with Question Time there are three Chamber Officers assisting in the chamber - one positioned on the government side, one on the opposition side, and one at the back - keeping an eye on the whole view.
Charlotte Carter, also 22, is another Chamber Officer who is studying law, as well as international relations and public policy.
"I was just browsing the Parliament website, as you do, and stumbled on the careers page and saw there was an opening, and yeah the job sounded really interesting, and I've always wanted to work at Parliament, because I've always been really interested in politics, and through studying public law, like the law reform process. So yeah, I chucked in an application and a few years later, here we are," she explained.
Work and study synergy
"For our studies, it's pretty perfect," said Finn who added that he'd been lucky enough to be in the job for several years when unprecedented events presented new challenges for Parliament, such as the Christchurch Mosques terror attacks and the pandemic with all its disruptions…