Swarbrick kicked out of Parliament after refusing to apologise
Yesterday, Swarbrick was kicked out of Parliament during an urgent debate on recognising Palestine as a state.
The debate was called after Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the Government was weighing up its position on the issue.
In recent times, the UK, Canada, France and Australia have announced plans to recognise Palestine as a state.
During the debate on Tuesday, Swarbrick said MPs could "grow a spine" and support her bill which would impose sanctions on Israel.
ADVERTISEMENT
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick, left, and Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee. (Source: 1News/Getty)
In response, Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee said: "That is completely unacceptable to make that statement. Withdraw it and apologise." When she refused, Brownlee said she would have to leave for the rest of the week and removed her from the House.
However, Brownlee later signalled he would again give Swarbrick the opportunity to apologise in the House today, where she then could avoid being barred.
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including the legal fight to get a New Zealand woman and her child out of US immigration detention, sliding house prices, and Taylor Swift's big reveal. (Source: 1News)
Returning to the House today, Swarbrick refused to withdraw and apologise, and at first, didn't leave when asked.
Brownlee then called a vote to name her, which the majority of MPs supported.
Swarbrick then removed herself from the House.
ADVERTISEMENT
Peters: 'Wasn't offensive enough to be booted'
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters. (Source: 1News)
Earlier, when heading into the House, NZ First leader Winston Peters spoke out against Swarbrick's removal.
"I didn't agree with one thing she said, but it wasn't offensive enough to be booted out," he said.
"If you can have John Key say 'get some guts', or accept the C-word — which was outrageous — then how can you be offensive in that context?
"Parliament is a robust theatre for debate. People have serious emotional concerns about what they believe in, and to take away the essence... about the emotional concern you are talking about, is to neuter the place, and that's bad for New Zealand's democracy."
Netanyahu 'lost the plot' – Luxon
ADVERTISEMENT
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. (Source: 1News)
On his way into the House, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon issued fresh criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his role in the war in Gaza.
'I think what's happening in Gaza is utterly appalling. I think Netanyahu has gone way too far, I think he has lost the plot."
Luxon said overnight attacks on Gaza City were "utterly unacceptable".
'He is not listening to the international community, and that is unacceptable.'
Labour leader Chris Hipkins was today asked whether he would agree with Luxon's comment on Netanyahu. "Probably, yes, actually, that's probably quite an astute observation."
Hipkins said he took a moment to pause before answering, looking surprised, because of the "strength of the language".
ADVERTISEMENT
'Uncharted territory' – Swarbrick
Swarbrick speaking to reporters today. (Source: 1News)
After leaving the House, Swarbrick said Brownlee had "been explicit about the fact he was the member who took personal offence" to her comment yesterday.
"We are in uncharted territory. As far as I am aware, there is no situation where a Speaker has asked for somebody to withdraw and apologise, that person has refused to apologise, then been ordered to leave the House, i.e. being punished, the person has complied, and then the Speaker has sought to reopen the issue the very next day.
"It would appear that now we are in a position where things are being completely made up."
When asked about Luxon's comments on Netanyahu, Swarbrick said: "The Government has yet to put any meaningful substance behind their words."
She said the very least the Government could do was "apply the exact same approach they did to Russia" – again referencing her bill to apply sanctions to Israel.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
17 minutes ago
- Otago Daily Times
Roles shift in Parliament
Party leaders in the New Zealand Parliament (from left) Prime Minister and Reform Party leader Gordon Coates, Leader of the Opposition and National Party leader George Forbes, Labour Party leader Harry Holland. ("National" was a name briefly used by the Liberal Party at the time, not to be confused with the modern National, a merger of United and Reform in 1936.) — Otago Witness, 27.10.1925 Thomas Wilford steps down Wellington, August 13: The House met at 2.30pm. Mr G.W. Forbes (Hurunui) occupied the seat of the Leader of the National Party. Mr Ransom moved that leave of absence be granted to Mr Wilford, Leader of the National Party, for the remainder of the session. Mr Coates, speaking to the motion, said he was sure every member would regret the necessity for such a motion, and the wish would everywhere go out that Mr Wilford would soon be restored to normal health. Mr Holland briefly but feelingly regretted the fact that Mr Wilford found it necessary to ask for leave, and expressed the hope that he would soon be sufficiently restored to health to resume his parliamentary duties. Mr Forbes, on behalf of the National Party, thanked the Leaders of the other parties for their kindly and sympathetic reference to Mr Wilford. He felt sure that Mr Wilford would deeply appreciate the kindly references which had been made to him by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Labour Party. The motion was agreed to. For some weeks now it has been apparent that the health of Mr T.M. Wilford, Leader of the Opposition, has not been satisfactory. He had taken the advice of medical men and it was certified that he was suffering from severe nervous debility. It was freely stated that it was more than probable that he would have to take a sea voyage, involving a somewhat prolonged absence from the House of Representatives. On the last occasion on which he made a speech in the House it was evident that he spoke with a considerable want of confidence in himself; as a matter of fact, he had difficulty in finishing his speech and nearly broke down. Since then he has been only once in the House. — by ODT Wellington correspondent Friending naval visitors A Dunedin soldier who achieved high honours during the war and a friend have adopted a very sensible method of entertaining our American visitors. They stroll along the street and the first two sailors they meet are invited to have lunch with them. The invitation is always gladly accepted, and the two Dunedinites are getting a more intimate knowledge of American life than most people. Beating Aussies at forestry In the matter of forest development, Australia has in all approximately 74 square miles of plantations. New Zealand has 100 square miles of plantations (one-third as much again as the whole of Australia), and this area is being added to at the rate of 17,500 acres, or over 27 square miles per year. 1.4m New Zealanders The estimated population of the dominion (including Maoris) as at June 30 last: Males 705,921. Females 676,015. Total 1,381,938. Parole system working There has been the shadow of a controversy concerning the methods of the Prisons Board in releasing offenders. The board acts on psychological and experimental grounds. It bases its decisions on the reports of officials upon whose fairness of judgment it has reason to rely. Speaking generally, we should be inclined to say that justice is done, and reasonable mercy afforded. Moreover, the records show that the clemency which it extends to prisoners has, as a rule, not been abused. — editorial — ODT, 14.8.1925 Compiled by Peter Dowden
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
Gaza: UN Experts Appalled By Murder Of Al Jazeera Correspondents In Israeli Strike
GENEVA (12 August 2025) – The deliberate killing of four Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza, including correspondent Anas Al-Sharif, was an attempt to silence reporting on the ongoing genocide and starvation campaign in the besieged enclave, UN experts* said today, condemning the targeted attacks in the strongest possible terms. 'The killing of four journalists just as Israel announces its plan to take over Gaza City is no coincidence, but a deliberate attempt to silence those who would have exposed the IDF's atrocities to the world,' the experts said. On Sunday 10 August 2025, Israel's armed forces killed Al Jazeera correspondents Anas Al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal in an airstrike on a tent near al-Shifa Hospital in eastern Gaza City. In a statement, the IDF said the killings were targeted, and accused Al-Sharif of being the head of a Hamas terrorist cell, citing alleged intelligence and documents found in Gaza. On 31 July 2025, the Special Rapporteurs denounced serious threats and unfounded accusations against Anas Al-Sharif by an Israeli army spokesperson and flagged it as a well-known, shameful tactic by the IDF to silence the truth about heinous crimes committed in Gaza. 'It is outrageous that the Israeli army dares to first launch a campaign to smear Anas Al-Sharif as Hamas in order to discredit his reporting and then kill him and his colleagues for speaking the truth to the world,' the experts said. 'We demand an immediate independent investigation into the killings and for Israel to urgently grant full access to the international media to enter Gaza. If Israel has nothing to hide, why does it continue to keep international journalists out?' they said. 'If Israel again refuses an independent investigation or access for international journalists, it will reconfirm its own culpability and cover up of the genocide.' 'Journalism is not terrorism. Israel has provided no credible evidence of the latter against any of the journalists that it has targeted and killed with impunity,' the experts said. 'These are acts of an arrogant army that believes itself to be impune, no matter the gravity of the crimes it commits. The impunity must end. The States that continue to support Israel must now place tough sanctions against its government in order to end the killings, the atrocities and the mass starvation.' The experts are in contact with the Government of Israel on this matter. *The experts: Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression Francesca Albanese, .
RNZ News
10 hours ago
- RNZ News
Swarbrick recieves one of most serious Parliament punishments
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has been 'named' by the Speaker, one of the most serious punishments Parliament can hand out. Swarbrick returned defiantly to Parliament today, refusing to apologise for her comments yesterday suggesting coalition MPs grow a spine and sanction Israel. It was all part of what turned into a tense afternoon at parliament, with the Prime Minister dishing out some tough words about his Israeli counterpart, saying Benjamin Netanyahu has lost the plot. Giles Dexter reports.
