Tabling of Documents — Allegation by JohnTamihere

John Tamihere, the member for a northern Māori seat, laid an allegation against me in this morning’s paper that I think is somewhat scurrilous, and untrue. Rather than bother you with a privilege procedure, I simply wish to take this opportunity to table for the House my identification tag for the Hui Taumata, presented to me by the organisers when I arrived, and worn by me for all the time that I was there. The fact that Mr Tamihere has no recollection of my being there will be of no surprise to this House. He is the man, of course, whose recollection of the past is so poor that he now has the Serious Fraud Office helping him to remember it.

I seek leave to table the identification that proves my presence at the Hui Taumata.

Could the deputy leader of the National Party also supply evidence as to when he actually clocked in at the conference?

💬 Madam SPEAKER: Leave was sought and it should have been taken. Leave was sought to table the identification. Any objection? Yes.

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I take it now that the requirement of the Prime Minister—the dictatorial Prime Minister that she is—that I should provide evidence of my clocking in is no longer required.

💬 Madam SPEAKER: As the member knows, that is not a valid point of order.