Face of the Day

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has claimed Parliament is in a “state of decay”, taking issue with what he believes is a sharp decline in standards.

Peters and his colleague Shane Jones were irked by a speech by Te Pāti Māori MP Takuta Ferris. They took issue with Ferris both using a laptop while delivering his general debate remarks and with the MP allegedly suggesting some in the House are “masters” of lying.

The speech led to a series of fiery exchanges, with Speaker Gerry Brownlee at one point saying Ferris was not keeping with the “tikanga” of the House.

In his speech, Ferris was critical of the direction the Government was stewarding New Zealand. He took particular issue with its approach to constitutional matters. Te Pāti Māori has opposed the Government’s Treaty Principles Bill proposal and other policies relating to Māori.

“It is clear to see there is a significant knowledge and capacity gap in this Government when it comes to issues of a constitutional nature,” Ferris said.

He said this was also true of some of Parliament’s MPs and staff.

“This House seems allergic to constitutional discussion or debate. Unless, of course, they are defining the terms of engagement themselves with no regard to the history or evidence.”

Ferris went on to say such a knowledge gap was a “dangerous thing”.

“It allows lies to be presented as truths. Politicians call this obfuscation. The art of making something unclear, intentionally vague, ambiguous, to conceal or obscure the truth, to confuse others. Lies in other words. Many in this House are masters of it and it is disservice to those who voted you into your positions.”

Peters stood up with a point of order at this point, suggesting it was “not acceptable” for MPs to accuse others of being “liars”.

Before he could finish, he was interrupted, leading him to firmly say: “Keep quiet I am making a point of order”.

“He made the allegation that Members of this Parliament are liars and he should have been stopped in his tracks right then,” Peters told the Speaker.

Brownlee said he hadn’t picked up on that, but advised Ferris that if he had said that, he should withdraw and apologise.

“I would also make it very clear to the Member that reading speeches is not part of the tikanga of the House either.”

NZ Herald