Speaker’s Rulings — Mispronunciation—Māori Language and Members’ Names

Just before I call the next member, I want to bring to members’ attention a ruling that was asked for last week—the member was also involved in that matter. Last week there was a discussion about pronunciation, and we said we would discuss it as presiding officers and come back with a ruling, which we have done. I will read the ruling to members: “To pronounce a word differently from the way in which another member pronounces that word is not a matter of order. There are many different ways to pronounce English words and I presume that this is true of Māori words too. No member in this House has the monopoly of directing how a word is to be pronounced. But if a member deliberately mispronounces a word—particularly another member’s name—so as to create disorder, then that is out of order and the Speaker, on the Speaker’s own initiative or on the matter being raised as a point of order, will intervene.”

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. It is a point of clarification. That was a very wise decision, and I thank you very much for bringing it to our attention. But I hope it was not as a result of any perceived mispronunciation on my part.

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley): No, absolutely not. This was just an opportunity to bring the matter up, and certainly the ruling needed to be reported back to the House.