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Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
NZ First list MP quits Parliament
New Zealand First MP Tanya Unkovich. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith New Zealand First List MP Tanya Unkovich has resigned, saying she serves New Zealanders better in the private sector. In a statement, the Auckland-based MP said serving in the public sector had been a great honour, but she believed she could serve better in the private sector, as well as coaching and consultancy. Before becoming an MP, Unkovich was a self-employed international life and business coach. "It has always been my deepest desire to serve mankind, and in my work as a Member of Parliament I have been privileged to be a voice to many in the community who need it the most," Unkovich said. "I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the New Zealand First caucus, party members, and in particular the Rt Hon Winston Peters for his strong leadership and commitment towards a greater New Zealand." Economic development consultant David Wilson from Upper Harbour was next on the party's list. Unkovich was a member of select committees for social services, economic development, science and innovation. RNZ requested interviews with both Peters and Unkovich, but a spokesperson for the party said they had "no further comment at this stage".
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
NZ First MP Tanya Unkovich quits Parliament
New Zealand First MP Tanya Unkovich. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith New Zealand First List MP Tanya Unkovich has resigned, saying she serves New Zealanders better in the private sector. In a statement, the Auckland-based MP said serving in the public sector had been a great honour, but she believed she could serve better in the private sector, as well as coaching and consultancy. Before becoming an MP, Unkovich was a self-employed international life and business coach. "It has always been my deepest desire to serve mankind, and in my work as a Member of Parliament I have been privileged to be a voice to many in the community who need it the most," Unkovich said. "I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the New Zealand First caucus, party members, and in particular the Rt Hon Winston Peters for his strong leadership and commitment towards a greater New Zealand." Economic development consultant David Wilson from Upper Harbour was next on the party's list. Unkovich was a member of select committees for social services, economic development, science and innovation. RNZ requested interviews with both Peters and Unkovich, but a spokesperson for the party said they had "no further comment at this stage".
Otago Daily Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
MPs set to debate on Te Pāti Māori trio's fate
Te Pāti Māori MPs , Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Rawiri Waititi and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke face ACT MPs as they perform the haka last year. Photo: VNP/Louis Collins Parliament has begun debating proposed punishments for three members of Te Pāti Māori party after they performed a haka during the reading of a controversial Bill last year. The MPs were reacting to the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill. Introduced by coalition partner ACT, the Bill aimed to clarify the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) and to establish a clear legal framework for how these principles should be understood and applied in New Zealand law. Some critics argued the Bill undermined Māori rights and would disrupt established interpretations of the Treaty. The Bill was defeated at its second reading last month. The Privileges Committee has recommended to the Speaker that party co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngārewa-Packer, and MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke (who led the haka Ka Mate but showed contrition) receive stand-downs of 21 and seven sitting days, respectively. Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee set out the parameters of the debate last week, including that all 123 MPs be allowed to speak. There is concern there will be filibustering. If any amendment is put forward, MPs would then be allowed to speak again. Such amendments could include a change to the length of the suspensions. The debate could go on well into the night - or even for weeks. If the debate is still going at 10pm today, Brownlee will decide whether it continues tomorrow or is adjourned until June. Parliament's public gallery will be closed today, but a protest is planned on the forecourt in Wellington. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has flatly rejected any concessions being made and doubled down this morning, saying the government stands by the recommendations in the privileges committee report. Iwi say a suspension of Te Pāti Māori MPs is a "punishment for being unapologetically Māori".
Otago Daily Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Te Pāti Māori decision: Debate primed for filibuster
Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke rips up a copy of the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill at the conclusion of the Bill's first reading last year. Photo: VNP/Louis Collins Labour is unlikely to engage in filibustering to slow progress of a debate into whether three Te Pāti Māori MPs should be suspended from Parliament after performing a haka during the first reading of the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. And the president of Te Pāti Māori says Parliament needs to recognise that society is evolving and tikanga Māori should be incorporated increasingly more into the House. It has been recommended to the Speaker of the House by the Privileges Committee that Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngārewa-Packer, and MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke (who led the haka Ka Mate but showed contrition) receive stand-downs of 21 and seven sitting days, respectively. The debate is set to begin on this afternoon and could go on well into the night - or even for weeks. The Treaty Principles Bill, introduced by the ACT party, aimed to clarify the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) and to establish a clear legal framework for how these principles should be understood and applied in New Zealand law. It was defeated at a second reading last month. Unusually for New Zealand's Parliament, it will be a debate primed for filibuster. Parliament's Speaker Gerry Brownlee set out the parameters last week, including that all 123 MPs will be allowed to speak. If any amendment is put forward, they would then be allowed to speak again. Such amendments could include a change to the length of the suspensions. Should the debate continue long enough, the Budget, to be delivered on Thursday, would take precedence over it and Te Pāti Māori MPs would be able to participate - including having their votes against the Budget recorded. Parliament's public gallery will be closed today, but a protest is planned on the forecourt in Wellington. Te Pāti Māori MPs Rawiri Waititi, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke face ACT MPs as they perform the haka. Photo: VNP/Louis Collins Green Party musterer Ricardo Menéndez March said the proposed ban was unprecedented and of concern to all the party's MPs, so it was likely they would want to speak during the debate. "It raises really really serious concerns about whether this new standard only applies when haka, waiata or tikanga Māori is used in the House." The Greens were hoping to be able to speak with government MPs and ultimately be able to reduce the penalty that had been given, he said - but elected Te Pāti Māori MPs should be able to vote during the Budget procedures. "We will be using the tools available to us to ensure that we can challenge this decision however we can." Menéndez March said he would not accept "performative outrage" on the issue of filibustering from government MPs. "They're the ones who have chosen to deal an unprecedented punishment and are unable to reflect on the issue that many have been raising about how tikanga can be better incorporated in the House." Labour leader Chris Hipkins agreed the proposed punishment was disproportionate. Hipkins told RNZ's Morning Report programme today there should be some kind of sanction, but the penalty on the table was too extreme. "Two other MPs have been sanctioned in this term of Parliament for bullying and intimidating behaviour - one National MP and one Green MP. Neither of them was suspended from the service of the House at all." Te Pāti Māori had a right to protest against the Treaty Principles Bill, he believed. "Frankly if they'd done the haka 90 seconds later I would've supported it - because the vote would've been declared, they would've been doing the haka after the vote as a form of protest to the law that Parliament had just passed." Prime Minister Christopher Luxon yesterday ruled out any compromise, so a deal between the government and Opposition for a shorter debate seems unlikely. ACT leader David Seymour, whose bill prompted the haka, told RNZ Te Pāti Māori's actions showed its MPs believed their behaviour was acceptable. "I hope the debate will be over very quickly ... this is Budget week and New Zealanders deserve to see how the government will manage the economy over the coming year, not hijinks in response to very wrong hijinks of Te Pāti Māori. "These are unprecedented offences and they deserve unprecedented penalties." He said the previous record of three days suspension, handed to former Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon for publicly criticising the Speaker of the House, was "very different from breaking ancient laws of our Parliament - tikanga if you like - that you should not leave your seat". "If they believe that is a legitimate way to do business, the punishment should be strong enough to persuade them of that belief, and I'd give them three months. "If it was up to me, a 90-day sentence of suspension but then subtract all the days they haven't shown up anyway. Like time served." New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, who was on the Privileges Committee that proposed the punishments, has long decried what he sees as falling standards at Parliament, putting the first-reading haka into that category. It will therefore be up to the Speaker and the opposition parties how long the debate lasts, and Brownlee has stated his willingness to support the minority in this case. Whether the disruption to the government's agenda is worth potential backlash for time wasting will be the political calculation being made.
RNZ News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
National MP puts forward member's bill to ban under-16s from social media
File photo. National MP Catherine Wedd Photo: VNP / Phil Smith The National Party wants to ban 16-year-olds from accessing social media by forcing companies to use age verification measures, but for now that's not government policy. National MP Catherine Wedd, with the backing of leader Christopher Luxon, has put forward a members' bill which would follow Australia's lead on cracking down on the social media giants. The Prime Minister said he wanted to explore picking it up as a "broader government bill," which would mean it could become law more quickly. Right now the legislation does not have government-endorsed, meaning it would be debated only if it was drawn from the ballot at random. Wedd said the Bill would put the onus on social media companies to verify someone is over the age of 16 before they access social media platforms, and is modelled off Australian legislation. "Currently, there are no legally enforceable age verification measures for social media platforms in New Zealand." Wedd said she'd heard from parents, teachers and principals that there wasn't enough protections in place. "My Social Media Age-Appropriate Users Bill is about protecting young people from bullying, inappropriate content and social media addiction by restricting access for under 16-year-olds." The bill would require social media platforms to take "all reasonable steps" to prevent under-16s from creating accounts. It would also introduce "penalties for non-compliance", including financial ones. Christopher Luxon said he wanted to see whether other political leaders from across parliament would come on board and support the bill. Photo: Lawrence Smith / Stuff Social media platforms would be able to rely on "reasonable verification measures to demonstrate compliance." The responsible minister would have the authority to designate specific platforms as age-restricted. The law would be reviewed three years after it came into force to assess its effectiveness and make any necessary changes. Luxon, who felt "very strongly" about the issue, said he'd been talking about it for the "last 18 months" and the caucus had worked on the issue over the "last year or so," before signing it off as a National Party Bill last month. But he wanted to see whether other political leaders from across parliament would come on board and support the bill. "I think there could be quite a lot of good bipartisan support for something like this. "It's not a political issue. It's actually a New Zealand issue." Luxon said he had spoken to ACT and New Zealand First about it, but wouldn't comment on their positions. "I'm just saying to you that I also want to make the pitch as a bipartisan piece of work." Labour leader Chris Hipkins said he's open to the idea - but think's it's something the government should "show some leadership on." "I'm concerned that they're just leaving that to a members bill." Hipkins pointed to Australia where there was "government led action" on the issue. "If the National Party believes in this, make it a government bill. "This is a conversation we need to have as a country. The Australians have been courageous and tackled it. I think New Zealand needs to do the same." He referenced New Zealand First's use of members bills to raise various issues. "It'll probably be like a New Zealand First bill. How long will it stay in the ballot before they come up with another little itch they want to scratch?" Last week the Minister of Internal Affairs, ACT's Brooke van Velden, told RNZ that Australia was "free to make their own rules around social media use." She said a "minimum age for social media is not something the New Zealand Government is considering." Van Velden said Australia's "minimum age" restriction would not come into force until later this year and was interersted to see how the policy was implemented.
