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Summarised by Centrist
Te Pāti Māori’s long-promised “reset” descended into fresh controversy as Speaker Gerry Brownlee rebuked the party for disrespecting parliamentary protocol.
The clash came during new MP Oriini Kaipara’s maiden speech, which ran for more than its allotted time.
As the warning bell rang repeatedly, Kaipara ignored it and continued speaking. According to reports, Kaipara had agreed, in advance, to a 15-minute limit.
The barefooted MP then led a waiata from the floor of the chamber, joined by supporters in the public gallery. What followed was a haka that disrupted proceedings, prompting Brownlee to suspend the House.
“People go on to marae all over the country and respect the protocols. We have a protocol here and it is our tikanga,” Brownlee told MPs. “That tikanga was based on agreement. For people to decide they’re not going to participate in that process, then they put themselves very firmly in contempt of Parliament.”
The party’s leadership then launched its much-hyped “reset,” promising unity and focus after weeks of internal turmoil. But the press conference lasted barely three minutes.
When 1News political editor Maiki Sherman asked about claims that the party was being run as a “dictatorship,” co-leader Rawiri Waititi abruptly ended the event, yanking co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer by the arm and walking out.
“You fellas can thank Maiki for that one,” he said as he left.
