New Zealand’s controversial Treaty Principles Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today and will now go to the Justice Committee for consideration as the national Hīkoi continued its journey to the capital.
Opposition Te Pati Māori’s Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke was suspended from the House following a haka.
Maipi-Clarke interrupted the vote on the Bill’s first reading with the Ka Mate haka taken up by members of the opposition and people in the public gallery.
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Meanwhile, thousands continued their Hīkoi mō te Tiriti on the fourth day towards Wellington opposed to the draft legislation.
A huge crowd earlier stopped traffic in Hamilton as the national Hīkoi made its way through the city.
During the haka by Maipi-Clarke, Speaker Gerry Brownlee rose to his feet.
When it finished, he suspended Parliament and asked for the public gallery to be cleared.
First vote attempt disrupted
It caused enough disruption that the Speaker suspended Parliament during the vote on the first reading.
Labour’s Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson was ejected from the House after calling the Bill’s sponsor ACT leader David Seymour a “liar” — breaking parliamentary rules.
When the House returned, Brownlee said Maipi-Clarke’s behaviour was “grossly disorderly”, “appallingly disrespectful”, and “premeditated”.
The government parties voted in favour of the Bill, with opposition parties voting against.
The bill passed its first reading in spite of the opposition Greens calling for its MPs to be allowed to vote individually on their conscience.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Labour MP Willie Jackson “excused” from the House. Video: RNZ
