Business of the House

A few moments ago I was given some very good advice by some of the whips, who advised me that when I have a tricky issue it would be well worth talking to them. I am very grateful for that advice. I seek leave again for the Rt Hon Winston Peters’ member’s bill, the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Deletion Bill, to be deferred or postponed until the next members’ day.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I presume that if the House does give leave for this, the Government—recognising that the circumstances have changed somewhat—might be prepared to give members the time that is taken up with these reports on the Order Paper some other time.

With all due respect to New Zealand First, if we cut this out today, then we cut out our own opportunities by a couple of hours for whatever remains of members’ day for the rest of the year. I know that the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Deletion Bill is pretty important to New Zealand First. I have publicly acknowledged on numerous occasions that the bill is in the name of Winston Peters and that we are supporting it. But I wonder whether we might get some explanation of why the bill ended up on the Order Paper today when there are members’ bills below the line that could have come up had we known sooner. It just seems to me a strange quirk of the parliamentary system that, at the last minute, we cost ourselves some time. I know that members have to give approval, but I would suggest, in granting this leave, the House might consider moving the Human Rights (Gender Identity) Amendment Bill back on to the Order Paper.

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson): I thank the honourable member for his contribution, but that is actually a matter for the Government to decide, not for the Speaker.

No, it is members’ day, it is for the House to decide.

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson: It is a member’s bill, and therefore it is a matter for the member in charge. Would Mr Brown seek leave again, please.

I seek leave for the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Deletion Bill to be deferred to the next members’ day.

💬 Gerry Brownlee: We ask for a reason, otherwise we just get confused.

I am prepared to give a reason.

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson): Please do.

I did actually outline this in my previous request for leave. We made an error of judgment. We did not anticipate the urgent debate, and we were hopeful that Mr Peters’ bill would come up before the tea break. He has travel arrangements this evening to be somewhere else tomorrow, so we are seeking leave to postpone the bill to the next members’ day.

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson): Is there any objection to that course of action being taken? There is objection.