Ties are now optional in Parliament after Rawiri Waititi was expelled for not wearing one

President Trevor Mallard has announced that ties are no longer mandatory in Parliament.

It comes days after a dress code debate between him and Maori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi, who saw Waititi expelled for not wearing a tie.

Mallard said that a meeting of the Standing Orders committee discussed appropriate business attire tonight and a presentation was heard on the subject of Te Paati Māori (Māori Party).

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

“As a spokesperson, I am guided by the discussion and decision of the committee and therefore ties will no longer be considered necessary as part of ‘proper business dress’. I am grateful to those who felt this was an important issue that it deserved further consideration. “

In a series of tweets, Mallard spoke about the history of the dress code in Parliament.

Mallard kicked Waititi out of the House Tuesday afternoon for not wearing a Western-style tie. Instead, he wore a traditional Maori hei-tiki.

During question time on Tuesday, Waititi tried to ask a question, but Mallard told him to sit down, as he had made it clear that male MPs could only ask questions if they were wearing ties.

Waititi tried again later and Mallard closed it again.

His co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, who wore a tie, defended his case, but Mallard did not change his mind and Waititi was expelled from the House.

Speaking to the media after being expelled for not wearing a traditional Western-style tie, Waititi said the president’s conduct was becoming “inconceivable.”

“He is forcing the indigenous people to use what I described as a colonial rope.”

He said the tie rule was out of date.

“As far as a lot of New Zealanders are concerned, this is a draw,” he said, pointing to his hei-tiki.

“This is a link with my people, this is a link with the difficult situation, this is a link with the very reasons why I am in this place to fight for our rights.”

In an op-ed, Waititi said the situation was more than a tie or a taonga.

“This has everything to do with equality,” he wrote.

He also expressed his disappointment on Twitter after Mallard’s decision.

“My hei-tiki is my favorite tie. It joins me with my tīpuna, whenua and my people. We have made it known that this party will not be subjugated or assimilated to antiquated colonial rules,” added the deputy.

Yet despite yesterday’s incident, when the same events unfolded today, Mallard chose not to stop Waititi from speaking.

After speaking to reporters, Waititi was clearly pleased with Mallard’s decision.

He said it was a “great moment, not only for Te Paati Māori (Māori Party), but for my people: this is a great victory for the future of our mokopuna.”

At the end of last year, Waititi was warned that he faced expulsion from the House if he did not wear a tie, after refusing to wear it, and in his inaugural address to Parliament he said in te reo: “Take the noose from my neck for me to sing my song. “

Last year, Mallard said he was willing to relax the rules on ties in the House.

He had asked all Members for their opinion on whether Members should wear ties in Parliament.

But that feedback was affirmative and the rule stuck.

“A significant majority of responding members opposed any change to the dress standards for the Debating Chamber,” Mallard said at the time.

“Having considered those views, I have decided that no change to current standards is warranted. Business attire, including a men’s jacket and tie, remains the required dress standard.”