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Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
In The Spirit Of Natural Justice
Having recently resigned from my executive positions within the National Party, I write this as someone who has seen the inner workings of the organisation up close. I joined the Party in 2023, during the election year that saw strong leadership return National to power. To be transparent, I had never voted Blue before. For many years, I strongly opposed the policies of the National Party for a range of reasons—but this felt different. Under the leadership of Judith Collins, National introduced candidates in the Māori electorates. As a Māori person, this was a promising development. The inclusion of the Treaty of Waitangi within the Party's values signalled a direction I felt I could support. After a conversation over a glass of wine with a then list MP, I was on board. A month later, I had the privilege of attending the launch of the Māori electorates for National at Parliament. I witnessed more than 20 years of history in the making, and I've stood present for the official launches of both Te Tai Hauāuru and Tāmaki Makaurau inside the House. However, following a recent internal disagreement with some of the Māori members of the Party, I resigned from my executive positions—and ultimately, from the Party itself. It is off this backdrop that I now write. Recently, Te Pāti Māori members were summoned to the Privileges Committee. Exercising their democratic rights, they declined to appear. Contrary to the rhetoric from ACT, attendance is not compulsory. Members of Parliament are not obligated to appear. That crucial point has been lost in much of the commentary. The report was presented before the House for debate. I listened carefully as Minister Collins, Chair of the Committee, spoke. Initially, her delivery was measured—clear, coherent, and seemingly factual—until it wasn't. The Committee, by majority (not consensus, which diverges from the usual practice), accused Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer of using 'gun gestures,' pointing toward ACT Party members, and saying 'e noho' following a haka performed in the House. I do not dispute that the performance disrupted proceedings. It did interrupt the business of the House and halted both sides of the vote—blocking parties on both the left and right from recording their stances. But in the spirit of democracy and natural justice, a report of this magnitude should be entirely factual. It should not rely on circumstantial or interpreted evidence. Let's be clear—the haka did happen. This isn't about 'haka.' It is about process. Whether you agree with the actions taken or not, due process matters. In my view, the report contains errors. Some of the accusations are false; others are framed through subjective interpretation. Two claims in particular stand out: In my view, the report is incorrect, accusations in the report are either false or interpretations and noted by subjective language. The accusations that are either interpreted to suit a narrative or false are: 'Ms Ngarewa-Packer … simulating a firing motion, said 'e noho' (sit down) Audio/visual evidence of the word clearly spoken was ' kino,' not 'e noho,' and the gesture was described as a 'wiri' (a trembling expression) or even a point, not a gun simulation. This indicates a potential factual inaccuracy in transcription and cultural interpretation. There is no evidence that points directly to intent of a gun motion. The word 'kino' has multiple translations and the committee relied on interpretation of their own, or did not seek assurances without consulting Māori experts to validate meaning or intent. Therefore, with this understanding, this section of the report is false. 'Particularly unacceptable for Ms Ngarewa-Packer to appear to simulate firing a gun…' This is a subjective interpretation of a cultural gesture. No independent verification was cited, nor was expert Māori input accepted. Te Pāti Māori refuted this interpretation and stated it was not a firearm simulation but an expressive haka gesture. There is no one way of simulating a firearm – after asking 10 kids, 2 in 10 showed the same as Ngarewa-Packer. With an understanding of the word 'kino' it is more likely that Te Pāti Māori MP pointed towards the Act Party calling them 'kino' and unlikely to be a 'fire arm simulation'. It is under this report that the committee has proposed a level of sanction that this country has never seen. Let's be clear, the report is not accurate. You can clearly argue both sides of this – however, in the evidence of fact, can parliament really accept the recommendations with false evidence. With the facts of the report being called into question, one, in the spirit of democracy, must ask the question, is the report valid to affirm the recommendations and sanction 3 of Te Pāti Māori MPs to the high level this country has ever seen? In the presence of 'doubt' and natural justice, can such a harsh sentence be handed down? Can the current government of New Zealand, stand on moral ground in the future and hold another government to account on the validity of their decisions if they choose to impose the recommendations of this report? Or, does the government have the political courage to stand up, say the report is flawed, and accept that the stand down period has occurred and the house and can get back to business for the people of this beautiful country?
RNZ News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Iwi says Te Pāti Māori suspension a 'punishment for being unapologetically Māori'
Photo: VNP/Louis Collins Three Te Pāti Māori MPs are awaiting a decision on their suspension from Parliament for the "disruption" haka Ka Mate caused during the in-house voting on the Treaty Principles Bill. It has been recommended to the speaker of the house by the privileges committee that party co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngārewa-Packer, and MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, receive a stand-down of 21 days and seven sitting days respectively. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust kaiwhakahaere Rachel Arnott - whose rohe Ngarewa-Packer represents in Parliament - said the use of haka in the House was clearly a measured response to a deliberately divisive bill. "For Parliament to treat Ka Mate as a disruption shows how little it understands or respects who we are." The decision will be debated on Tuesday. If agreed to by the House, the three MPs will not receive a salary for the relevant period, will not be attending Budget Day 2025, and it would be the harshest punishment ever given out by the Privileges Committee. The longest suspension previously was former Prime Minister Robert Muldoon who was suspended for three days. Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Ngarewa-Packer is the elected MP for Te Tai Hauāuru, and is a descendant of Ngāti Ruahine, Ngāruahine, Ngā Rauru, and Ngati Ruanui. Ngarewa-Packer had spent more than a decade as the CEO of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui before Arnott was appointed in 2020. "Communication is at the very heart of politics and Members of Parliament, no matter their stripes, need to be able to express themselves freely. Picking and choosing when Parliament acknowledges Tikanga Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi is not acceptable," Arnott said. Arnott said labelling defenders of Te Tiriti as lawbreakers detracts, and distracts, from the deeply disturbing cultural exclusion being inflicted by this government. "This is a calculated attempt to silence Māori voices at a time when Te Tiriti is under sustained attack, te reo is being undermined, and Māori are being pushed to the margins once again. "Make no mistake, this is not democracy. This is punishment for being unapologetically Māori." Ngarewa-Packer was first elected into parliament in 2020 - iwi Ngāti Ruanui had supported her political career pursuit. "To see her targeted for one of the most serious punishments ever to be doled out is unacceptable to Ngāti Ruanui," Arnott said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
