Latest news with #TreatyPrinciples

RNZ News

2 days ago

Politics
RNZ News

More than half of voters back proposed penalty, or harsher, for Te Pāti Māori MPs, poll suggests

Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipa-Clarke at Parliament, after the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill in November. Photo: RNZ/ Samuel Rillstone More than half of voters consider the proposed penalty for three Te Pāti Māori MPs over the Treaty Principles haka to be either appropriate or too lenient, polling shows, ahead of the debate on the matter resuming on Thursday afternoon. That debate - which had potential to become a filibuster - was cut short when Leader of the House Chris Bishop unexpectedly postponed it last month. The Privileges Committee - which recommends punishments for breaking Parliament's rules - proposed a 21-day suspension for the co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, and seven days for MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke. It means no pay, no ability to vote on legislation, and no presence in Parliament for the duration. The latest RNZ-Reid Research poll asked for voters' views on whether the punishment fit the crime. Overall, more people - 37.0 percent said it was "about right"; while 36.2 percent said it was "too harsh"; 17.2 percent said "too lenient", and 9.6 percent said they did not know: a 54.2 percent majority then backing the punishment or thought it should be stronger, in line with the coalition parties' view. The result puts opposition parties - which all labelled the three-week ban disproportionate - in a difficult position. Broken down by voting preferences, more than half of Labour's supporters (51.2 percent) backed leader Chris Hipkins' view the suspensions were too harsh, but a sizeable number thought the punishment fair (29.8 percent) or too lax (8 percent). Greens supporters were more convinced with three quarters (75.3 percent) calling the punishment too harsh, but still 12.4 percent said it was about right and 3.8 percent too lenient. Surprisingly, 9 percent of Te Pāti Māori's supporters also labelled it too lenient, although a clear 80.8 percent called it too harsh, with just 6.2 percent saying it was about right. The results for the coaltion voters were more predictable, far more National, ACT and NZ First supporters saying it was too lenient, compared to those calling it too harsh. But Speaker Gerry Brownlee, of the National Party, appears to be in the latter camp - he called the punishments "very severe" and "unprecedented" when setting down the original debate on Parliament's calendar. He pointed out no MP found guilty of contempt had previously been suspended for more than three days. The Privileges Committee recommendation was also only backed by coalition parties, despite convention dictating the MPs on the committee should aim for consensus. Those responding to RNZ's questions may have known these facts from media reporting - or they may not. Bishop's postponement of the debate took the teeth out of opposition criticisms the government wanted to keep the punished MPs from commenting on the Budget - as it turned out, the co-leaders did not speak in the Budget debate anyway. Budget delivered, MPs return to the debating chamber to discuss the punishment after Question Time today. The length of the debate rests ultimately in Brownlee's hands, and he has signalled a willingness to let it continue until all views were thoroughly aired. Whether parties actually want to filibuster - given the poll, and the risk of voters' patience for politicians talking about themselves wearing thin - is far from certain. Hipkins says a few of his MPs will speak, but they will not be running down the clock with endless speeches. The Greens' co-leaders have said they think the MPs should not be suspended, and they plan to scrutinise the decision "to the highest degree". But Te Pāti Māori is eager to put the matter to bed. "Just got to hurry up and get it over and done with and let's sort it out, otherwise we'll be hanging around here waiting and waiting and waiting. Just, they've made their verdict - let's just get it done," co-leader Rawiri Waititi said. This poll of 1008 people was conducted by Reid Research, using quota sampling and weighting to ensure a representative cross section by age, gender and geography. The poll was conducted through online interviews between 23-30 May 2025 and has a maximum margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent at a 95 percent confidence level. The report is available here .

TOP Will Convene Citizens' Assemblies To End Political Gridlock

Scoop

6 days ago

Politics
Scoop

TOP Will Convene Citizens' Assemblies To End Political Gridlock

Sunday 15 June 2025. To break the cycle of political indecision and costly policy reversals, The Opportunities Party is launching The Citizens' Voice. The party's first 2026 Election policy calls for the use of Citizens' Assemblies on pressing issues successive Governments are failing on. "Politics as usual isn't working. We're stuck in a wasteful cycle of pendulum politics where every left-right lurch after an election costs us," says TOP spokesperson David Webb. 'Every time Government changes, we endure economic uncertainty on par with 9/11. We just can't afford that anymore'. Recent examples of political waste include $229 million on the abandoned Auckland light rail project, $300 million (and counting) for cancelled inter-island ferries and $297 million lost in (another) overhaul of New Zealand's polytechnics. 'The consistent decline in right track / wrong track polling shows us that people are losing trust in our political system. The Citizens' Voice is about turning that trend around by doing democracy differently – with everyday people leading on the hard issues, and politicians following' says Webb. The Citizens' Voice policy has two components: Citizens' Assemblies. Like jury duty but for policy, Assemblies bring together a random, representative, paid group of New Zealanders to learn about a complex issue, deliberate on solutions and make recommendations that Government must respond to. The process is designed to progress politically gridlocked, long-term issues like superannuation, housing, healthcare and infrastructure. Parliamentary Commissioner for Citizens' Voice. An independent, non-partisan office gives the policy institutional backbone. The Commissioner will convene Assemblies, ensure they are fair and robust, use new digital democracy tools to amplify Citizens' voices and ensure Government engages seriously with Citizens' recommendations. 'Citizens' Assemblies are about trusting that everyday New Zealanders, when given information and time, can find common ground and set sensible, long-term policy directions on the issues politicians have failed on' says Webb. Citizens' Assemblies have helped navigate tense, complicated issues internationally and in New Zealand. In Ireland, Assemblies broke decades of deadlock on marriage equality and abortion. In Auckland, an Assembly's recommendations on water infrastructure were adopted by the Watercare Board. Two issues that could benefit from a Citizens' Assembly approach are New Zealand's Constitutional system and Superannuation. 'The Treaty Principles controversy highlighted the partisan, performative nature of Parliament. The Bill itself was short-sighted and divisive, but there is a real need for a national conversation on our Constitutional framework and the role of Te Tiriti. How we make that decision is as important as the decision itself - maybe more so' says Webb. 'Superannuation is on track to send New Zealand over the fiscal cliff – but it's a politically untouchable issue because it's a vote loser for politicians. A Citizens' Assembly would give Parliament the social license to finally act on Superannuation.' 'The problem with kicking the can down the road, is that eventually, you run out of road' says Webb. 'With challenges like AI and climate change coming at us, New Zealanders deserve a political system built around courage, co-operation and long-term thinking. We're launching the Citizens' Voice policy to do just that.' A full overview of The Citizens' Voice policy - including FAQs, briefing papers and international examples - is available at

'Sad Day In Parliament': Winston Peters On Te Pāti Māori Suspension Debate

Scoop

06-06-2025

Politics
Scoop

'Sad Day In Parliament': Winston Peters On Te Pāti Māori Suspension Debate

The New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says Te Pāti Māori MPs' behaviour performing a haka in Parliament in protest against the Treaty Principles Bill was unprecedented and "unforgivable". Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi will be suspended for 21 days, and MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke suspended for seven days, taking effect immediately, as punishment. No MP has ever been suspended for more than three days before. Speaking to Morning Report about Thursday night's debate on the punishment, Peters said: "I can't think of a more sad day in Parliament in recent times". He said during the haka "...people were being intimidated and no circumstances no matter what you say it was unprecedented, unforgivable". He questioned why Te Pāti Māori did not apologise. "They had every chance at every point in time to just drop a line and say look we're sorry for what we did, as did Peeni Henare and others do that but no not them, they're unique, they say they represent Māori and they don't..." Labour MP Henare, who also participated in the haka, didn't face suspension. Henare attended the committee and apologised, which contributed to his lesser sanction. Te Pāti Māori and the Greens say the punishment is racist, but Peters told Morning Report it wasTe Pāti Māori who were racist. On Thursday night Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi said there had been many instances of misinterpretations of the haka in The House and said it was unclear why they were being punished, "is it about the haka... is it about the gun gestures?" "Not one committee member has explained to us where 21 days came from," Waititi said. He said the haka was an elevation of indigenous voice and the proposed punishment was a "warning shot from the colonial state that cannot stomach" defiance. Waititi said that throughout history when Māori did not play ball, the "coloniser government" reached for extreme sanctions, ending with a plea to voters: "make this a one-term government, enrol, vote". He brought out a noose to represent Māori wrongfully put to death in the past, saying "interpretation is a feeling, it is not a fact ... you've traded a noose for legislation". Maipi-Clarke said she had been silent on the issue for a long time, the party's voices in haka having sent shockwaves around the world. She questioned whether that was why the MPs were being punished. "Since when did being proud of your culture make you racist?" "We will never be silenced, and we will never be lost," she said, calling the Treaty Principles bill was a "dishonourable vote". She had apologised to the Speaker and accepted the consequence laid down on the day, but refused to apologise. She listed other incidents in Parliament that resulted in no punishment. Asked if he thought there was room for tikanga in the House, Peters said tikanga varies iwi by iwi, "whose tikanga will you support when you come to Parliament?" Opposition parties tried to reject the recommendation of punishment, but did not have the numbers to vote it down.

Peters calls out 'racist' Māori Party, says debate 'a sad day'

Otago Daily Times

05-06-2025

Politics
Otago Daily Times

Peters calls out 'racist' Māori Party, says debate 'a sad day'

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters. Photo: RNZ New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says Te Pāti Māori MPs' behaviour performing a haka in Parliament in protest against the Treaty Principles Bill was unprecedented and "unforgivable". Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi will be suspended for 21 days, and MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke suspended for seven days, taking effect immediately, as punishment. No MP has ever been suspended for more than three days before. Speaking to Morning Report about Thursday night's debate on the punishment, Peters said: "I can't think of a more sad day in Parliament in recent times". He said during the haka "...people were being intimidated and no circumstances no matter what you say it was unprecedented, unforgivable". He questioned why Te Pāti Māori did not apologise. "They had every chance at every point in time to just drop a line and say look we're sorry for what we did, as did Peeni Henare and others do that but no not them, they're unique, they say they represent Māori and they don't..." Labour MP Henare, who also participated in the haka, didn't face suspension. Henare attended the committee and apologised, which contributed to his lesser sanction. Te Pāti Māori and the Greens say the punishment is racist, but Peters told Morning Report it was Te Pāti Māori who were racist. On Thursday night Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi said there had been many instances of misinterpretations of the haka in The House and said it was unclear why they were being punished, "is it about the haka... is about the gun gestures?" "Not one committee member has explained to us where 21 days came from," Waititi said. He said the haka was an elevation of indigenous voice and the proposed punishment was a "warning shot from the colonial state that cannot stomach" defiance. Waititi said that throughout history when Māori did not play ball, the "coloniser government" reached for extreme sanctions, ending with a plea to voters: "make this a one-term government, enrol, vote". He brought out a noose to represent Māori wrongfully put to death in the past, saying "interpretation is a feeling, it is not a fact ... you've traded a noose for legislation". Maipi-Clarke said she had been silent on the issue for a long time, the party's voices in haka having sent shockwaves around the world. She questioned whether that was why the MPs were being punished. "Since when did being proud of your culture make you racist?" "We will never be silenced, and we will never be lost," she said, calling the Treaty Principles bill was a "dishonourable vote". She had apologised to the Speaker and accepted the consequence laid down on the day, but refused to apologise. She listed other incidents in Parliament that resulted in no punishment. Asked if he thought there was room for tikanga in the House, Peters said tikanga varies iwi by iwi, "whose tikanga will you support when you come to Parliament?" Opposition parties tried to reject the recommendation of punishment, but did not have the numbers to vote it down.