Privileges Committee Report On Te Pāti Māori's Haka To Be Debated, Voted On Next Tuesday

Thursday, 15 May 2025, 5:21 pm
Article: RNZ

Russell Palmer, Political Reporter

The Privileges Committee report on Te Pāti Māori's haka last year will be debated and voted on next Tuesday, with Parliament's Speaker calling the proposed punishment "very severe".

Gerry Brownlee told the House a 21-day suspension for Te Pāti Māori's leaders for leading the Treaty Principles haka last year would be unprecedented.

"This is an important debate, and one I'm sure members will want to prepare for," he said.

"It's a recommendation at this point, as the House hasn't yet dealt with it. These punishments recommended by the committee are very severe and are unprecedented in this Parliament."

Since Parliament first sat in 1854, no MP found guilty of contempt had been suspended for more than three days, he said, and unlike in those times such punishment would now carry a significant financial penalty.

"The committee's recommendation therefore represents a significant development in the practice of the House. A proper opportunity for debate must be provided before the House arrives at a decision."

He said the report was agreed to by the committee by a slim majority, and the Speaker by convention protects fair treatment of minority views in Parliament.

"The effect of the recommendation would be to deprive members of a minority party of their ability to sit and vote in this House for several days. As this report states, the Speaker has a duty to protect the rights of members of all sides of the House.

"I intend to honour that convention by ensuring the House does not take a decision next week without due consideration. In my view, the severe recommended penalties placed before the House for consideration mean it would be unreasonable to accept a closure motion until all perspectives and views have been very fully expressed."

While Parliament automatically gets the opportunity to debate a Privileges Committee report, it is unusual for the Speaker to advise Parliament that it is likely to be a long debate MPs should prepare for.

It will also mean an opportunity for the report to be accepted but for the punishment to be amended.

Brownlee pointed that out specifically.

"The motion may be amended, and an amendment is not required to reflect the recommendation ... it is not an all or nothing decision."

The government still holds a majority so when Parliament votes next week the coalition parties are likely to confirm the committee's recommendation, but Brownlee's move gives an opportunity for all parties to have their say on the matter and change the punishment if there's a change of heart.

Labour's Kieran McAnulty asked if Brownlee would consider allowing the final vote on the report and the punishment - which could be amended - to be a personal vote rather than on party lines, but Brownlee said no.

It will be a busy week in politics, with the Budget also being delivered on Thursday.

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