Maori party MPs leave Parliament in protest

By RNZ

The two Maori Party MPs left the Chamber in protest during the debate on the speech and Parliament’s response.

Under the rules, party leaders with more than six deputies have 30 minutes to speak and smaller parties only get a chance if time permits before the House rises to five.

However, because they are new deputies, if they were to speak in the Speech and Response debate, it would constitute their inaugural address, which is not scheduled until at least next week.

The party’s co-leader, Rawiri Waititi, tried to secure a space to speak today based on a standing order that such decisions not discriminate against a minority party.

He told reporters that he and co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer withdrew after being blocked by President Trevor Mallard.

“We decided that we did not want to participate in a system that is actually based on being very unfair,” Waititi said.

“The tyranny of our democracy for minority parties – it is absolutely shameful to be quite honest.”