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Otago Daily Times
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Chlöe Swarbrick ejected from Parliament after Gaza speech
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. Photo: RNZ Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has been ejected from Parliament's debating chamber and barred for the rest of the week after a fiery speech about the war in Gaza. She was taking part in an urgent debate called after the coalition's announcement that it would come to a formal decision in September over whether to recognise the state of Palestine. As Swarbrick came to the end of her contribution, she challenged the coalition MPs to back her member's bill allowing New Zealand to apply sanctions on Israel "for its war crimes". "If we find six of 68 government MPs with a spine, we can stand on the right side of history," Swarbrick said. Almost immediately, Speaker Gerry Brownlee condemned the remark as "completely unacceptable" and demanded she "withdraw it and apologise". Swarbrick shot back a curt - "no" - prompting Brownlee to order her out of the chamber for the remainder of the week. "Happily," Swarbrick said, as she rose to leave. Earlier, during Parliament's Question Time, Act leader and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour objected to Swarbrick having a Palestinian scarf, or keffiyeh, draped across her seat. "I invite you to consider what this House might look like if everybody who had an interest in a global conflict started adorning their seats with symbols of one side or another of a conflict," he said. "I think that would bring the House into disrepute and no member should be allowed to do such a thing." Brownlee said Seymour raised a good point, only for Swarbrick to then wrap the scarf around her neck. "Oh, here we go," he said. "Well, stay warm. We'll move on now."
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Greens call to rally, get organised for 2026 election
By Anneke Smith of RNZ Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has urged the membership to rally and get organised for next year's election. MPs and party faithful gathered for their annual meeting at creative campus Te Auaha in central Wellington this weekend. Swarbrick received a standing ovation, after her speech that asked members to "take a deep breath" and action their opposition to the coalition's policy agenda. "I don't really want to just talk about the bad guys and the bad things today, because I know we're angry," she said. "We've got a lot to be angry about, but that anger, while righteous, won't get us anywhere, if we do not channel it into organised action." Swarbrick and co-leader Marama Davidson have visited communities throughout the country this year, as part of a nationwide roadshow. She told membership the Greens' ideas were "immensely popular" and the party's work in the coming year was to "grow" the party's movement. "New Zealanders are hungry for solutions, because - clearly - the current system, it ain't working for them. "That means that there is a country full of people ready to join our movement. We've seen in Auckland Central, in Rongotai and here in Wellington Central that, when we get curious about our neighbours and find our shared values, when we show up for our communities and build our movement beyond traditional circles, we win, the people win." The Green Party has had a relatively steady year, after a tumultuous start to the term that saw several controversial resignations, the sudden death of MP Efeso Collins and Davidson taking time out to fight cancer. Since then, both co-leaders have talked about leading the opposition and setting the agenda, as the party released a swathe of policy, including its own 'Green Budget'. This rhetoric hasn't translated into a boost in support in the polls, with the Greens consistently polling about 10 percent of the general vote. Swarbrick told membership many New Zealanders were "exhausted" and "fed up with politics", but they should still fight to create "the most progressive government Aotearoa has ever seen". "We need to connect the dots on these acts of humanity, building something so big it overtakes and replaces the system of extraction and exhaustion and exploitation. "Now, those making bank from the climate crisis and profiting from deep inequality will invest everything that they have got into telling you that it's impossible, because they need you to believe that they need you fighting your fellow New Zealander," Swarbrick said.
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Green Party calls to rally, get organised for election
By Anneke Smith of RNZ Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has urged the membership to rally and get organised for next year's election. MPs and party faithful gathered for their annual meeting at creative campus Te Auaha in central Wellington this weekend. Swarbrick received a standing ovation, after her speech that asked members to "take a deep breath" and action their opposition to the coalition's policy agenda. "I don't really want to just talk about the bad guys and the bad things today, because I know we're angry," she said. "We've got a lot to be angry about, but that anger, while righteous, won't get us anywhere, if we do not channel it into organised action." Swarbrick and co-leader Marama Davidson have visited communities throughout the country this year, as part of a nationwide roadshow. She told membership the Greens' ideas were "immensely popular" and the party's work in the coming year was to "grow" the party's movement. "New Zealanders are hungry for solutions, because - clearly - the current system, it ain't working for them. "That means that there is a country full of people ready to join our movement. We've seen in Auckland Central, in Rongotai and here in Wellington Central that, when we get curious about our neighbours and find our shared values, when we show up for our communities and build our movement beyond traditional circles, we win, the people win." The Green Party has had a relatively steady year, after a tumultuous start to the term that saw several controversial resignations, the sudden death of MP Efeso Collins and Davidson taking time out to fight cancer. Since then, both co-leaders have talked about leading the opposition and setting the agenda, as the party released a swathe of policy, including its own 'Green Budget'. This rhetoric hasn't translated into a boost in support in the polls, with the Greens consistently polling about 10 percent of the general vote. Swarbrick told membership many New Zealanders were "exhausted" and "fed up with politics", but they should still fight to create "the most progressive government Aotearoa has ever seen". "We need to connect the dots on these acts of humanity, building something so big it overtakes and replaces the system of extraction and exhaustion and exploitation. "Now, those making bank from the climate crisis and profiting from deep inequality will invest everything that they have got into telling you that it's impossible, because they need you to believe that they need you fighting your fellow New Zealander," Swarbrick said.
