KEY POINTS:
Small parties, with the exception of New Zealand First, are on their own in signing up to a parliamentary code of conduct with National and Labour giving it the cold shoulder.
In fact National say the code undermines Parliament's Speaker Margaret Wilson.
Today the Greens, Maori, United Future
and ACT parties signed the code which sets out behaviour requirements inside and out of the House. NZ First say they weren't asked to be involved but this is disputed.
The code states MPs who signed up to the code would: work for public good, show a respect for Parliament, not accept bribes or other rewards, not advance private interests, avoid conflicts of interest, and ensure proper use of public resources.
National's shadow leader of the House Gerry Brownlee said the Standing Orders -- rules which govern Parliament -- were its code of conduct and the new one was an affront to Ms Wilson.
"I think there's a veiled attack on the Speaker," he told NZPA.
"I think it's reprehensible and they really should work through the Standing Orders select committee to make any changes they think are necessary. That's the way to deal with it."
Labour MP Ross Robertson has previously attempted to get a code through that way but it still before the committee.
Green Party leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said the grouping of "MMP Parties" wanted immediate action.
"We've decided that rather than go to Standing Orders Committee as supplicants again...that we would develop a code of practice and sign it ourselves and then invite the rest of Parliament to join us."
ACT leader Rodney Hide has previously got in trouble for his behaviour in the House but claims to be a now reformed MP.
"I think I have demonstrated that anyone can change and change for the better...I am the bad boy trying to be good."
The parties were asked what sanctions there were apart from peer and public pressure and an extension of televising in Parliament.
"I felt like being naughty first thing this morning just one last time because when you sign something like this it is a serious commitment," Mr Hide said.
The code sets out behaviour already deemed inappropriate or illegal but United Leader Peter Dunne, in a veiled reference to the Taito Phillip Field case, said it was important to make a commitment.
"'You can dismiss it as a platitude -- it's actually an important statement of principle."
Previously he has made strong statements against the Greens but promised such comments were a thing of the past.
"I would treat them as being the sort of comments that should not be made as part of the code."
Maori Party leader Tariana Turia, whose party's behaviour in the House is exemplary, said the code was needed. "We're extremely concerned at the level the House has sunk to."
However, Labour leader of the House Michael Cullen saw no need for the code and the point of politics was that people held different views of what the public interest was.
"The problem is not having a code of conduct, the problem is how to enforce a code of conduct and that's down to the Speaker and enforcement of the current rules," he said.
"A code of conduct adds nothing particularly to what's already within the rules of Parliamentary behaviour."
NZ First were sent an email and a letter about setting up the code but said they were never asked. One of its MPs, Ron Mark, who got caught on film giving the fingers in the House, said it was not necessary anyway and the public did not want a bunch of "stuffed shirts and prima donnas".
Mr Brownlee said serious bad behaviour was rare.
"It's Peter Dunne head prefect and his band of stooges trying to make themselves relevant. I think it's the wrong way to go, it's disrespectful."
Mr Brownlee said stable democracies had robust debates.
"We're not some sort of banana republic, we don't come to blows or anything like that."
- NZPA
