KEY POINTS:
Some MPs have started a push to rewrite the prayer that starts each day's proceedings at Parliament. A Christian prayer has begun Parliament's business since 1854, but Labour MP and Christian Luamanuvao Winnie Laban said MPs needed to discuss having a prayer which was inclusive and reflected New
Zealand's religious diversity.
"I believe the parliamentary prayer should be expanded to include mention of other faiths as well as Christianity," Ms Laban said.
"New Zealand 153 years ago was a much different place to today. I believe we need to discuss having a prayer that reflects today's diverse society."
She was commenting on a letter sent to all 121 MPs by the Speaker, Margaret Wilson, asking for their view on whether the prayer should be scrapped or redrafted.
Green MP Nandor Tanczos - a Rastafarian - believed strongly that the prayer should be kept, but changed.
"I like the idea of a prayer for meditation or contemplation at the beginning of each day. I think it's good to take a moment to remind ourselves that we're not there for our own egos but we're there for a greater good, one would hope.
"But I think it should be phrased in an inclusive, not an exclusive, way."
With atheist, agnostic and non-Christian MPs, it seemed a small thing to do to put the wording of the prayer in a form which everyone could agree with, Mr Tanczos said.
Parliament's first Muslim MP, Labour's Ashraf Choudhary, supported a rewrite of the prayer to remove the reference to Jesus Christ.
"Having just come back from the Interfaith dialogue in Waitangi, where we have been discussing these issues, I think we need to respect people's faiths. I'm all for any prayers but as long as they reflect today's society in New Zealand. That would be great."
Although he had not drafted any alternate wording himself, Mr Choudhary said he was happy with the prayer, apart from the last few words.
"If you take those out, that should be OK," Mr Choudhary said.
In the prayer MPs ask Almighty God to allow them to conduct the business of the House for the tranquillity of New Zealand, and closes with "through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen".
Independent MP and Christian Gordon Copeland saw no sense in "de-Christianising" the prayer, as Christianity was the main religion in New Zealand.
"To me, taking those words out leaves the prayer in a no-man's land. It's not Christian, or Hindu or Muslim. It seems to me that any prayer, to be authentic, has to be relevant to a particular faith and Christianity is still by far the main religion in New Zealand."
Labour list MP Dover Samuels saw no need to tamper with a piece of parliamentary tradition.
"I think on many occasions there has been a need for divine guidance for debate in the House, on all fronts," he said.
"I for one believe that the prayer should be left alone. It's been part of our procedure for many years."
In 2003 former Progressive Party MP Matt Robson failed in a bid to have the prayer modernised.
The present survey of MPs, sparked by a letter to Ms Wilson on the issue, will be reported to the standing order committee, which sets Parliament's rules.
Destiny Church leader Bishop Brian Tamaki said tampering with Parliament's prayer was a perfect example of what the church wanted to prevent. Removing it would be an affront to tradition and the founding values of the nation.
- Additional reporting: Claire Trevett
What they say
'The Christian prayer has been around for many years and, in the context of New Zealand today, if we are going to be inclusive I think we should look for a prayer that does include other faiths.'
Catholic Archbishop John Dew
'[The prayer] is steeped in tradition, has been there since Adam was a cowboy and there's no point in changing it.'
John Key
'We want to be tolerant of others but that doesn't mean we have to take away every symbol of the Christian faith.'
Glyn Carpenter, director of Vision Network
'Obviously New Zealand has had tremendous influence from Christianity", but the country has never had a "state religion".'
Helen Clark
'I believe it is very important that our law makers acknowledge God before they go about their business. By doing so they honour the founding values of our nation and are reminded that there is a higher authority than themselves, although I suspect this reminder is the very reason why they want the prayer removed.'
Bishop Brian Tamaki
'It's part of the tradition of Parliament, unbroken since it started, and it's the only time of the day that politicians are forced to think about something besides themselves.'
Bill English
