The House of Representatives was in utter chaos yesterday, writes 1News political producer Tom Day, after a highly charged and “unprecedented” afternoon in Parliament’s Chamber.
The afternoon included the suspension of an MP for “appallingly disrespectful conduct”, a haka led by Te Pāti Māori which was joined by opposition members, a suspension of proceedings and a clear-out of the public gallery, as well as a booting.
The ACT Party’s Treaty Principles Bill has ignited a nationwide debate, which can be seen through the turnout at the various hīkoi and activation events across the country.
In Parliament, the day began with a press conference by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who continued to state the National Party’s position that they won’t support the Bill beyond first reading.
But his language became stronger: “You do not go and negate, with a single stroke of a pen, 184 years of debate and discussion with a bill that I think is very simplistic.”
Then he was off to his first Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in Peru to meet 20 other world leaders, joking that Air New Zealand does not wait for anyone.
Back here, one National MP told me there was nothing ACT Party leader David Seymour could say that would change their mind.
But nevertheless, all 48 of the party’s MPs held their noses and backed a bill they have publicly criticised.
Inside the House, after question time, Speaker Gerry Brownlee gave the public gallery a warning.
“If anyone interrupts proceedings from the galleries they will be removed and will not be allowed to return.”
It was a message that failed to be adhered to within moments.
Seymour was first up to speak as the architect of the Bill and allowed 10 minutes while the other 10 respondents were allotted five each. But it would take him some time to get going.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer attempted to filibuster proceedings by making repeated points of order — all of which faced no serious consideration from the Speaker.
Once he was underway, from the Press Gallery (which is on my very rough maths about 10m from Seymour) it was difficult at times to make out what he was saying.
The disruption from the House was immense with the Speaker leaving Seymour to face the music.
“I realise there are people in te ao Māori who may not trust the state and with good reason,” Seymour said.
To which Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi jumped in and said “they don’t trust you, David”.
If you thought the tension would die down after Seymour had finished speaking — you’d be wrong.
Next up was Labour’s Willie Jackson, who is not one to shy away from a debate or a controversial comment.
Though the Prime Minister wasn’t present in the chamber yesterday, he wasn’t left out of the action.
“The Prime Minister is too weak to stop the dangerous extremism of the ACT party. The party of Doug Brown, the party of Chris Finlayson, Jim Bolger, Jenny Shipley, none of those would have been played the way the Prime Minister has been played,” Jackson said to applause from the public gallery.
By this point, the Speaker had had enough. He deployed the “no more” tactic — when I was a football referee a few moons ago, this was effectively the message you’d give to a player to say the next foul is a booking.
While the public gallery heard the message initially, they would save their greatest disruption for later.
But Jackson was not done. At the end of his speech, he said he had a “message” for Seymour relayed to him by people at the hīkoi mō te Tiriti in Auckland.
“You fuel hatred and misinformation in this country. You bring out the worst in New Zealanders. You should be ashamed of yourself and you are a liar.”
If there is a cardinal sin in Parliament, it’s to call someone a liar.
Typically for such an offence, MPs will be quick to “withdraw and apologise” upon reprimand from the Speaker, but Jackson was in no mood to do so.
He was swiftly booted from Parliament, becoming the first MP to be asked to leave the chamber under Brownlee’s tenure as Speaker.
There was no naughty step remorse from him either, the MP taking to social media following the ejection.
“Today I was ejected from the house for my response to the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill. I just want to clarify something. I will not apologise for what is the truth. David Seymour has continuously misrepresented the Treaty. End of story. Kia Ora and good night.”
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi began his speech by placing his hat on the floor and said Te Tiriti was more superior than anyone in Parliament.
He saved his harshest critique for Seymour and his party: “ACT are seen to be pulling the strings and running the country like the KKK.”
When asked by 1News afterward why he made those comments, referring to the US white supremacist group the Ku Klux Klan, Waititi said he stood by them.
Other speeches were predominantly from Government MPs, many of whom laid the blame at the foot of the MMP system.
“The reality of MMP is that parties are required to make compromises,” National Party senior whip Scott Simpson said.
You could feel the reluctance in the speeches made by National MPs, almost like they’d had their names pulled out of a hat for who was trotted out to speak.
Then it was time for the voting to begin. Parties stuck to their lines: National in favour, Labour opposed, Greens opposed, ACT in favour and NZ First in favour. But Te Pāti Māori’s Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke was keen to delay the proceedings further.
Parliament’s youngest MP broke out into a haka which was joined by MPs from the opposition benches as well as those who had been watching on from the public gallery. Alongside Maipi-Clarke, co-leaders Ngarewa-Packer and Waititi went face-to-face with Seymour as they performed the Ngāti Toa haka.
Speaker Gerry Brownlee suspended the sitting after a haka led by Te Pāti Māori. (Source: Other)
This was the red line for Brownlee who briefly suspended the House and removed the public gallery — an unprecedented move no MP 1News could find had ever recalled happening before.
Once the bells had rung and Parliament had resumed, the Speaker dealt his harshest punishment to Maipi-Clarke — a 24-hour suspension which meant she was unable to vote against the Bill and would have her pay docked for that period.
Then, after several attempted point of order interventions, by Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick, the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill was passed with the support of National, New Zealand First and ACT.
Their support sends the Bill to a select committee, expected to take six months to consider it.
Seymour told the press pack following the session that the day had been “successful”.
But I suspect the other parties would disagree with that sentiment.
Seymour ended his day by posting a picture of himself having a beer at the airport.
If there is anything bipartisan to come out of yesterday, it’s that he won’t be the only one needing a drink after watching what took place inside the House.
