Parliament’s dress code ties fell after the position of Maori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi

Parliamentary spokesman Trevor Mallard has announced that ties will no longer be deemed necessary as part of “appropriate business attire” for male MPs.

The issue arose after Mallard removed Rawiri Waititi from the House of Representatives from the House on Tuesday for his refusal to wear a tie. He had previously been prevented from speaking because he did not have a tie, although he was wearing a hei tiki instead.

On Wednesday, Mallard said that a Bylaws committee meeting had been held to discuss the issue and hear a presentation by Te Paati Māori.

“The committee did not reach a consensus, but the majority of the committee was in favor of eliminating the requirement that ties be part of ‘appropriate business attire’ for men.

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“As Spokesperson, I am guided by the committee discussion and therefore ties will no longer be considered necessary as part of ‘proper business attire,’” he announced.

The speaker had raised the matter at the beginning of the session, saying that he would not allow Waititi to speak in the House if he did not wear a tie, despite his personal belief that the mandatory wearing of a tie was outdated.

Waititi had returned to the debate wearing his hei tiki instead of a tie and was allowed to stand up and ask an additional question without comment from Mallard.

After the last session, Waititi said that the rules should be relaxed and include other cultures, especially the tangata whenua.

He said that former Maori Party MPs fought for the environment by allowing current Maori Party MPs to be themselves.

Mallard said they had agreed to a truce until the standing orders committee met.

He said the committee included a broad cross-section of Parliament, which would provide more balanced advice than an earlier poll he conducted.

During the prayer at the beginning of the session, Waititi stood without his trademark cowboy hat and his collar without a standard tie. Instead, he wore his hei tiki.

Waititi and co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer sent an email to the speaker ahead of Wednesday’s session, stating their position on ties.

They said the speaker made it clear that he was the sole arbiter of such matters and “therefore the judgment has always been his.”

“Any action not to grant Maori equal rights in the House to adorn themselves with their cultural positions, must be viewed as discriminatory, unfair, unfair and unequal.”

These were not standing orders. “It is a simple matter of judgment on the part of the speaker.”