A haka by Te Pāti Māori MPs interrupted the first reading of the contentious Treaty Principles Bill today, causing Parliament to be briefly suspended.
It also resulted in Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee naming Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke as the instigator as the House voted to suspend her.
It followed Opposition politicians grilling members of the Government, including Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka, Minister of Justice Paul Goldsmith and Minister of Education Erica Stanford on issues relating to the Treaty of Waitangi and Māori-Crown relations.
Act leader David Seymour began speeches on the Treaty Principles Bill. With the three governing parties committed to supporting it at first reading, it was expected to pass through to a select committee before the disruption to the vote by the haka.
KEY POINTS:
- The Treaty Principles Bill, championed by Act leader David Seymour, will face its first vote in Parliament this afternoon.
- The debate is expected to get heated, with Speaker Gerry Brownlee set to issue a warning from the outset that any disruption from members of the public will see the entire public gallery cleared.
- National has said it will not support the bill after today's first reading.
- Thousands have been marching towards Wellington in opposition to the bill. The Hīkoi mō te Tiriti (march for the Treaty) is expected to reach the capital next Tuesday.
Follow our live updates below.
New Zealand First MP Shane Jones has hit out at Te Pāti Māori for today’s haka in Parliament, inferring they should be thrown in jail.
“Parliament has inherent powers to put people in jail and the way the Maori party are carrying on, that seems to me quite the appropriate response,” he told Newstalk ZB’s Heather du Plessis-Allan’s drive show.
He described their behaviour as “threatening and ugly”.
“It turned into a circus with the Maori party, in particular, the young lady from Tai nui,” Jones said, referring to Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke.
Maipi-Clarke has since been disciplined by Speaker, Gerrie Brownlie, who named her in parliament for what he called “appalling”, “disrespectful” and “grossly disorderly” conduct.
Jones said he wasn’t surprised the Maori party was “subverting parliament”. He then referred to the party as “malcontents” who were there to undermine the legitimacy of parliament.
He said the Hīkoi was used by Te Pāti Māori as a basis to recruit members.
“The whole Hikoi, which was actually a car-Koi is designed as a clarion call to boost the appeal of the Māori party,” he said.
Associate Justice Minister David Seymour says all New Zealanders will now be able to have their say on the Treaty Principles Bill after it passed its first reading and was sent to the Justice Committee to be considered.
“I look forward to seeing what Kiwis have to say on the Bill over the six-month select committee process,” says Seymour.
“The select committee process will finally democratise the debate over the Treaty which has until this point been dominated by a small number of judges, senior public servants, academics, and politicians."
“Parliament introduced the concept of the Treaty principles into law in 1975 but did not define them. As a result, the courts and the Waitangi Tribunal have been able to develop principles that have been used to justify actions that are contrary to the principle of equal rights. Those actions include co-governance in the delivery of public services, ethnic quotas in public institutions, and consultation based on background.
“The principles of the Treaty are not going away. Either Parliament can define them, or the courts will continue to meddle in this area of critical political and constitutional importance. The purpose of the Treaty Principles Bill is for Parliament to define the principles of the Treaty, provide certainty and clarity, and promote a national conversation about their place in our constitutional arrangements.
“The Bill will not alter or amend the Treaty itself. It will be used to assist with the interpretation of legislation where Treaty principles would normally be considered relevant, in addition to legislation that refers to Treaty principles directly.
“Far from being a divisive document, the Treaty is a powerful guide for New Zealand’s future, establishing that all New Zealanders have equal rights, and that the government has a duty to protect those rights.
“I believe all New Zealanders deserve tino rangatiratanga – the right to self-determination. That all human beings are alike in dignity. The Treaty Principles Bill would give all New Zealanders equality before the law, so that we can go forward as one people with one set of rights.
“I am looking forward to this important national conversation about the place of the Treaty in our constitutional arrangements.”
The official vote for the Treaty Principles Bill has taken place and it has passed its first reading as expected with support from National, NZ First and Act.
Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori did not support it.
It was now referred to Parliament's Justice Select Committee where it was expected to go through a six-month public consultation process before coming back to the House for its second reading.
National had already committed to not support the Bill at second reading, suggesting the Bill would not progress into law without support from the Opposition, which was very unlikely.
David Seymour is questioning whether others who took part in the haka should be named, particularly for approaching him.
He said a similar incident recently has been a matter of privilege.
That’s a reference to Greens’ MP Julie Anne Genter’s outburst at Minister Matt Doocey.
The Speaker said naming was a serious action and he would reserve it for the instigator.
Brownlee described it as "appallingly disrespectful conduct".
"Pre-meditated actions to disrupt the House by one of its members is grossly disorderly."
MPs voted in favour of the naming by 68-55.
Parliament has agreed to suspend Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke after she started the haka that derailed the party vote for the Treaty Principles Bill.
Speaker Gerry Brownlee said the actions from the MP and her party were "appalling" and "disrespectful", deeming such pre-meditated behaviour as "grossly disorderly".
Holding a vote on Maipi-Clarke's suspension, National, Act and NZ First supported it.
Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori opposed it.
Maipi-Clarke was not in the House as the vote was cast.
It's unclear how long the suspension will last.
The Speaker has named Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke.
He has suggested a motion suspending her. A vote is taking place.
Parties making up the Government vote in favour while others are in Opposition.
That means the motion passed.
There are also no members of the public in the gallery, which the Speaker earlier cleared.
The bells are ringing in Parliament. MPs are slowly returning to the chamber.
Act’s David Seymour has returned inside throughout the suspension.
