Tabling of Documents — New Zealand First Campaign Funding

I seek leave to table a document showing that the person who was responsible for the daily management of Winston Peters’ and New Zealand First’s 2005 campaign was previously a fund-raiser for the Republican Party.

💬 Madam SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. [Interruption] Would the member please indicate clearly whether there is any objection to the tabling of that document. There is no objection.

Document, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. In the past you have allowed people to seek points of clarification so they might make up their mind as to whether they would object. That was all I was attempting to do, because I know that the man mentioned was not the campaign manager for New Zealand First’s 2005 campaign. He was the campaign manager in one election for the Tauranga electorate. All I was seeking was a point of clarification—[Interruption] I raise a point of order.

Please be seated. The member has made a statement of what was in the document. The member presumably stands by that statement as being a statement of fact. What the member is doing is actually debating the point. We are about to have a general debate, so may I suggest that if it is a point of order, please make it a point of order not a point of explanation or information.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My point of order is a question to you on the decision you made to sit me down and not hear my point of order. You have on many occasions in the House—and I could go to the Hansard—allowed people to seek clarification as to the request for which leave has been sought. On numerous occasions you have allowed people to clarify as to precisely what the document states.

💬 Madam SPEAKER: What does the member want clarification about?

That was all I was going to seek, but you sat me down.

💬 Madam SPEAKER: Would you please make your point.

Madam Speaker, it is too late.

💬 Madam SPEAKER: No, it is not too late. If it shortens this very long, non - point of order, could the member please just ask for what clarification he wished. I thought I had clarified whether the member had stood by the statement he made. But if the member has another point of clarification, please make it quickly.

Thank you. I ask whether the document states that the person ran the New Zealand First campaign.

In response, I have been given leave to table the document, so it will be on the Table very shortly. The member can pick it up and read it for himself.

💬 Madam SPEAKER: The member has leave to table the document and is perfectly entitled not to give that information.

I seek leave to table evidence as to why John Foote joined me upon my departure from the National Party—because he could not stand the corrupt party at all; nor could I.

💬 Madam SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.