Harawira 'disappointed' after swearing-in drama

Mana Party's Hone Harawira after he was thrown out of Parliament for refusing to give the correct oath. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Hone Harawira says he was disappointed by the Speaker of the House's actions when he refused to swear the recently elected MP into parliament.

Mr Harawira was thrown out of parliament this afternoon after he refused to give the correct oath of affirmation, which is required by law.

Dr Smith said he was happy for the affirmation to be read in te reo Maori but Mr Harawira refused.

Mr Harawira instead read from a page in Maori.

His 60-odd supporters then began to break into a waiata as he left the debating chamber, in defiance of Mr Smith's orders for them to stop.

A National MP yelled "lack of respect" as he left the chamber.

Afterward Mr Harawira said he was disappointed by the Speaker's actions.

"To have the Speaker of the House deny the Treaty as part of my affirmation is a signal of exactly where we are and where we go as a people."

He said others in the past had included the Treaty of Waitangi in their oaths and were allowed to retake the appropriate oath at the time so he was puzzled as to why it was rejected this time.

The full oath was included at the end of his statement, but the Speaker had not allowed him to finish.

"There was scope there for the oath of affirmation to proceed, he chose not to let that happen. That's something perhaps he needs to think about, particualrly given he has allowed numerous others to affirm in
different ways in the past."

He would abide by the rules to administer the oath when he was allowed
his second attempt the next time Parliament sits after the recess - on
August 2.

"It was about affirming my allegiance to the Treaty of Waitangi, to the people of Waitangi, to Maori generally and to those in society who are
marginalised."

Mr Smith said he had to throw Mr Harawira out because it was illegal not to give the oath as it was defined by law.

He felt bad for interrupting a waiata, but had to protect the conventions of parliament.

"Abuse of the law of this country cannot be celebrated."

Green Party leader Russel Norman sought to introduce a motion giving Mr Harawira another chance to take the oath.

National Party MPs objected to his request.

What Harawria said:

"I, Hone Pani Tamati Waka Nene Harawira, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, that I will be honest and forthright in my efforts to advance the rights of the people of Tai
Tokerau, that I will do my utmost to help all Maori people become full
empowered citizens of this land and that I will do whatever I can to reduce inequalities in this country, so that all may one day be proud to call Aotearoa home."

The correct oath (in English or Te Reo):

"I, [name] swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God."

OR

The affirmation:

"I [name] solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her heirs and successors, according to law."

- HERALD ONLINE