The Parliamentary Privileges Committee has recommended suspending Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer for 21 days and MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke for 7 days after they performed a haka in protest of the Treaty Principles Bill during its first reading, standing in front of ACT Party MPs.
Committee chair Judith Collins called the protest the worst behaviour she had witnessed in Parliament and said the unprecedented penalties reflect the seriousness of disrupting a vote.
Labour, Greens, and Te Pāti Māori members condemned the move as excessive, especially as it would exclude the MPs from the Budget session.
ACT leader David Seymour argued the penalties were not harsh enough. A final vote on the suspensions is set for Tuesday.
🇳🇿 New Zealand lawmaker Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke of Te Pāti Māori launched a haka chant in parliament, leading a protest against a controversial bill redefining the Treaty of Waitangi’s principles. pic.twitter.com/VT0YVeJhJO
— Ground News (@Ground_app) November 15, 2024
So members of the crime syndicate gave members of the crime syndicate a get out of jail free pass. That will teach them.
They deserve to be removed from Parliament permanently. They show nothing but contempt for Parliament and for the taxpayers who provide them with a salary far in excess of their capabilities and intelligence. Another perfect example of why the Maori seats should be abolished.
Removed without pay I hope,parliament is a joke get rid of them for good.