NZ First leader Winston Peters denies blocking MPs' say on waka-jumping bill

Acting Prime Minister and NZ First leader Winston Peters says party-hopping MPs would destroy the fundamentals of democracy. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters has denied blocking Opposition MPs considering the so-called waka-jumping bill from having a say.

National's electoral law spokesman Nick Smith said the justice select committee looking at the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill was unable to consider any amendments nor get any advice from officials on key issues.

"Government MPs simply stated the bill had to be reported back to the House unamended to meet the demands of Winston Peters," Smith said.

"Not a single submission supported the bill without amendment yet the Government insisted it be progressed as is. The Ministry of Justice would not provide any views on the bill and simply stated it was government policy to pass it unamended," he said in a statement.

"The offensive part of this bill is enabling a party leader to dismiss an MP, a provision demanded by Mr Peters to enable him to wield even more power. It's particularly outrageous that this bill is proposing to be passed when a majority of Parliament oppose it."

Peters today said Smith should "give up and go home".

"These bills come back to the House. They have a second reading then there's a committee of the whole House. All 120 MPs will then be studying the bill as to whether amendments should be made," Peters told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking.

The Green Party last week said it had to "swallow a dead rat" and support the bill in the interests of the Coalition Government.

The bill, which ensures Parliament's proportionality in the event that an MP leaves or is ejected from a party, is part of the Labour-NZ First coalition agreement but needs the support of the Green Party to pass into law.

Co-leader Marama Davidson said the Greens reluctantly agreed to support the Coalition to enact the bill. "We continue to oppose the idea that a party caucus should have the power to expel MPs from Parliament," she said last week.

Peters, the leader of New Zealand First, said if MPs were allowed to party-hop, it would destroy the democratic fundamentals of society.

"They've said that they had to swallow a rat. Well I could say something but I'm keeping my counsel here."