Turnaround of the tie debate: Trevor Mallard allows Rawiri Waititi to speak in Parliament despite lack of tie

Maori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi was able to remain in Parliament after reverting to wearing a hei-tiki tie instead of a Western-style tie.

Mallard sighed when he called Waititi, after the Maori Party co-leader got up to ask a question. But he allowed him to speak.

Mallard removed Waititi from the House yesterday after the couple clashed over Waititi’s refusal to wear a tie.

Instead, he used a traditional hei-tiki: He told the media that, as far as many New Zealanders are concerned, “this is a draw.”

Mallard disagreed and expelled him from the House after previously warning him not to speak again unless he was wearing a Western-style tie.

The rules are expected to be discussed later tonight.

A Maori Party spokesperson previously confirmed that Waititi would use hei-tiki again in the House today.

The party had a follow-up question today and Waititi planned to use it.

In an email that the Maori Party distributed to the media this morning, Waititi told Mallard that the matter “sits directly on you as Spokesperson.”

“It is the opinion of Te Paati Māori (the Maori Party) that you are the sole arbiter of a number of matters before the House.

“As he has indicated, he is even the sole referee of time.”

Waititi said that the wearing of a hei-tiki by a Maori MP representing the Maori Party and, without shame, the Maori should be able to carry their cultural statements of identity.

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

Speaking to the media yesterday after being expelled from the camera, Waititi said that forcing him to wear a tie was “forcing the indigenous people to wear what I described as a colonial rope.”

He said Mallard’s conduct was “irrepressible.”

Mallard was eager to relax the rules on male MPs wearing ties in the House, but after consulting with MPs, most said they wanted to keep the rule.

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