Speaker Gerry Brownlee had to suspend the House and clear the public gallery after Maori Party MPs performed a haka during a party vote on the Treaty Principles Bill, causing confusion and chaos in New Zealand’s Parliament. The MPs staged a ceremonial haka and refused calls for order, prompting Brownlee to suspend the sitting and clear the gallery. The MÄori Party’s disruption led to the Bill not passing its first reading until order was restored later in the day. Brownlee censured and ejected the MPs involved in the disruption, with government parties supporting his actions while opposition parties opposed them.
The Bill was bringing out the worst in New Zealanders, according to Jackson, who stated that Seymour should be ashamed.
âI said some time ago [Seymourâs] the most dangerous politician in New Zealand. And that has come to pass,â Jackson said in a speech primarily aimed at the ACT leader.
He also criticized Prime Minister Luxon for being too weak to prevent the Bill from moving forward, which was met with applause from opposition MPs and the public gallery. Brownlee reminded visitors to the House to remain silent.
âMÄoridom will never accept a redefining of our relationship with the Crown,â Jackson declared. âNot today, not tomorrow, not ever. We will march and march for our rights.â
He concluded his remarks by accusing Seymour of lyingâa phrase that had long been banned under Standing Ordersâand then refused to retract and apologize. As a result, he was ejected from the House by the speaker, becoming the first MP to be removed this term.
As the ACTâs Seymour began the debate to introduce the Bill, he was nearly drowned out by the volume of interjections and heckling from opposition MPs, prompting Brownlee to warn them to cease what he referred to as âa barrage.â
Seymour argued that the existing Treaty principles, as interpreted by the courts, are problematic because âthey afford MÄori different rights from other New Zealanders, and I know why that is: lawyers, with their training, they canât help but see a contract and their instinct tells them to interpret a contract instead of ask âwhat is the best constitutional foundation for a country.ââ
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