Parliament’s Privileges Committee has ruled that Te Pāti Māori MP Tākuta Ferris deliberately misled the House after denying he called other MPs “liars” during a general debate in September.
Despite his claims that he was discussing “obfuscation” rather than directly accusing members of lying, the committee found his statements contradictory and confusing.
Ferris declined to appear in person to clarify his remarks, leading the committee to conclude that his words implied MPs were liars, amounting to contempt of Parliament.
As a result, he has been ordered to apologise, though he was absent from the House when the ruling was announced.
Te Pāti Māori has accepted the decision, while New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, who initially raised the concern, called the ruling “justified.”
Why do we continue to fund this treasonous crime syndicate masquerading as a democratic government.