A debate on the Privileges Committee’s report into the actions of three Te Pāti Māori MPs – including their proposed suspension – has been adjourned until early June.
The move was put forward by Leader of the House Chris Bishop, with government MPs voting in favour and opposition MPs against.
In a statement, Bishop said: “Our position on the recommended punishments remains unchanged”.
“Deferring consideration of the debate means all members will have the opportunity to debate and vote on the Budget.”
‘Wasn’t what I expected’
Prior to the motion, there was little indication the debate was going to be adjourned.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke in favour of the recommendation – and said “let’s see” when asked if he thought the debate could distract from the Budget.
“Frankly, if [the opposition] want to muck around, then so be it.”
Reacting to the the move when it was put forth by Bishop this afternoon, Speaker Gerry Brownlee commented “it certainly wasn’t what I expected”.
Meanwhile, Labour leader Chris Hipkins argued moving the debate could potentially impact the ability for the three Te Pāti Māori MPs to vote on the Budget.
“The Budget will not be voted on until after June 5. If the motion had passed today, after 21 days, it’s possible by the time the vote for the Budget came up, that they would be back in the House to vote.”
Peters removed prior to adjournment
Before the debate was set to begin, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters was removed from the House.
He was removed at the request of Brownlee after he asked Luxon if ‘Māorification’ would be “every Thursday I went and got myself a sun tan”.
Prior to his removal, Brownlee had warned other MPs about outbursts and off-topic questions.
Crowd gathers outside Parliament
Outside Parliament, people were gathering in support of Te Pāti Māori.
The event, labelled an “activation” by the party, was to stand in “unity against the Regulatory Standards Bills, Pay Equity Cuts and to haka in support of Māori MPs being sanctioned”, according to a post on the party’s Instagram.
How we got here
Last week, the Privileges Committee recommended the suspensions of co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke in the wake of a haka that was performed during the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill last year.
The debate was set to take place this afternoon.
A 21-day suspension was recommended for Waititi and Ngarewa-Packer, while a seven-day suspension was recommended for Maipi-Clarke.
The recommendation was set to be voted on by MPs today. The majority were expected to vote in favour.
Last week, Brownlee told the House the decision was “unprecedented”, and that no member of Parliament has been suspended for more than three days since it first sat in 1854.
The Speaker said it was important all perspectives and views were shared before a decision is made on the recommendation, meaning all MPs would be able to voice their opinion if they wished.