Points of Order — Dominion Post Article

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I want to raise an issue with you, under Standing Orders 22, 33, and 397, that is of deep concern to the National Party and, I am sure, others in the House. That is the issue of a small article on the front page of this morning’s Dominion Post, in which you are effectively accused of taking a bottle of wine as some sort of assuaging of the stress, or whatever, caused to you by the hassle of three Labour Party researchers—Andrew Marshall, Melanie Schurr, and Donovan Ryan—undertaking a bit of guerrilla activity on the second floor by posting an offensive notice on the door of Shane Ardern’s office. The question we have, before the matter can progress, is a simple one, and that is whether you received a bottle of wine from those people.

Let me just say, to the best of my knowledge, no, I certainly did not ask for it.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I thank you for that assurance. Perhaps the Government whip could now assure the House that the Government researchers were not given the advice that what they should do is provide you with a bottle of wine.

That is not a point of order, but if the senior Government whip wishes to make a comment, he can.

I would be delighted to, Mr Speaker. I have already communicated my concern about the inaccuracy of the story to its author. When I was approached about the issue, I referred to the employment matters concerned. The issue of any gifts of any kind was not raised. None occurred, and I have told her that is the fact. I can assure the House that is exactly the facts of this matter.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The question that Mr Brownlee put was did you receive a bottle of wine from the aforesaid parties—not whether you asked for one, but whether you received one.

Yes, and I said “to the very best of my knowledge, no”. Occasionally I have on my table a bottle of wine given to me by someone, and, of course, I automatically put it down to be shared with my colleagues and friends, including people in the Opposition and in the press gallery. Members will know that I am reasonably generous in this regard. But to the best of my knowledge, no, and I certainly did not ask for it.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I do not want to get too pedantic. The question could well be: were you offered, in the circumstances, a bottle of wine? If your answers remain as they are, would you entertain a letter from us citing a breach of privilege against Leah Haines for implicating the Chair—and it is not you personally; it is the office of the Chair, which I think has taken quite a battering of late—being referred to the Privileges Committee?

Let me just say that if the member wants to write a letter to me about that matter, he is perfectly at liberty to do so, and I would encourage him to do so if he wishes.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I too do not want to be pedantic. I accept absolutely the assurance given by the Government whip, but that was not actually the assurance that I asked him for. The assurance that I asked him for was based on what is actually in the newspaper, and it states: “The trio were advised to buy bottles of wine for Speaker of the House Jonathan Hunt,”—I will not go into the next bit because it is abusive—“… and Mr Benson-Pope—to compensate them for the hassle the stunt caused them.” In fact, Mr Benson-Pope did not answer that question, and would he just give us an assurance that they were not given that advice.

I can certainly give that assurance to the member. [Interruption] No, I did not; I am certain I did not.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. It is, to say the least, reassuring that you had not given that advice. The question is whether we have got officers in this House—and a whip is an officer—advising people that the best way around a sticky situation is to give the Speaker a bottle of wine. It seems to me that that is most disrespectful.

No. Let me just say that of course that is a silly thing—if anyone did think that was a way out.

💬 Gerry Brownlee: It’s written in there.

It might be written in the newspaper, but that does not make it accurate.

💬 Gerry Brownlee: That is all we are trying to get to.

Yes, well, I think the report is an inaccurate report, and I have made my position perfectly clear.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I want to make it absolutely clear that I was not even asking you for such an assurance. I think it is inconceivable that the Speaker would have been giving out advice like that. That is not what the newspaper said, and I was actually asking for an assurance from the chief Government whip, who, at the moment, has left me with the impression that the story is true. If it is not, I think it would help the whole House if he were to say that no such advice was given.

I am not aware of any such advice being given by anyone to the research unit. I certainly did not give it. No wine changed hands.