Motions — Malaysia Airlines—Flight MH17 Crash in Ukraine

I seek leave to move a motion without notice in relation to Flight MH17.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course of action being followed? There is none.

I move, That this House express its condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives on Flight MH17, register its dismay at the constraints that have been imposed by armed separatist groups impeding the international investigation, call on those groups to cooperate immediately and unreservedly with international authorities, and urge Russia to use its influence with those groups to ensure the investigation and recovery operation proceeds appropriately and unimpeded. The New Zealand Government has been shocked by the events surrounding Flight MH17. All New Zealanders will wish to join me in expressing our sadness to the families of the New Zealanders who perished. We are also greatly saddened by the grievous casualties borne by our friends in other countries, particularly the Netherlands, Malaysia, and Australia. I have spoken with leaders of those countries to pass on the condolences of the New Zealand Government and people.

The Government has been deeply concerned by the lack of appropriate and secure access to the site of the crash of Flight MH17 over the course of the last few days and by suggestions that armed groups have interfered with evidence. We are appalled that the bodies of those who died may not have been accorded proper and dignified treatment. We are disturbed by continuing hostilities in the region, which have hampered the investigation. There are reports that many of the bodies have now been collected, but others still remain at the site and it is essential that they too be quickly collected and the site remain secured for a proper international investigation. Two hundred and ninety-eight people, including people who called New Zealand home, have been caught up in a conflict they had no part in. President Putin must use his influence with the rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine to ensure that a ceasefire takes effect, so the international investigating team can undertake the important work unimpeded and without danger to themselves. Acting on instruction, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has also registered this message with Russian diplomats to convey back to their authorities.

On 19 July New Zealand made a statement to the United Nations Security Council calling for an international, thorough, credible, and independent investigation. This morning New Zealand co-sponsored Australia’s resolution on this matter at the Security Council. The international community has made clear the need for urgent action, and we expect the Security Council to show leadership and work together to support all international efforts in resolving this crisis. This terrible event reinforces the urgent need for an end to hostilities in eastern Ukraine and for the dispute to be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law.

I stand firm with the Prime Minister on this matter. The Labour Party expresses its deepest sympathies to the families of all aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. The tragic deaths of the 298 people on board, apparently shot down over a war zone, are a heartbreaking loss. Our thoughts are especially with the families of the New Zealanders and New Zealand residents killed in the crash—Robert Ayley, Mary Menke, and Gerry Menke—and also with the families of the deceased of those of other nations. Losing a loved one can only be a horrific experience, and their loss will be so much worse in circumstances such as these.

There is nothing that any of us can do to lessen their grief, but we can push for answers as to how this terrible tragedy happened, who is responsible, and how we can prevent anything like this ever happening again in future. We join with the international community in calling for a swift, independent investigation of the crash site, to establish the causes of the crash. We expect nothing less than the full cooperation of all parties concerned, including Russia and the Ukrainian separatists. I would add that I support the sentiments and actions of the New Zealand Government in pursuing this end.

We are encouraged by the news that the black boxes from MH17 have now been handed over to the Malaysian authorities and that safe, secure access to the site for international investigators has now been guaranteed. But the Russian Government must also step up and take responsibility for ensuring that international efforts to find the answers we need are not hampered and that a full inquiry is allowed to take place no matter what answers that inquiry may find.

Tēnā koutou e te Whare. The Green Party wishes to support this motion and to convey our condolences to the families and friends of the victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. The tragedy has cost the lives of 298 innocent people who had nothing to do whatsoever with the conflict in Ukraine. But, then, all war takes innocent lives. War is itself an atrocity. Our thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones in this crime against humanity. Many countries around the world have been directly affected by this tragedy—the Netherlands and Malaysia, including, for them, 15 crew members. Australia has lost more than 30 of its own. We make particular acknowledgment of the New Zealand families who are grieving for their lost loved ones.

The Green Party supports the United Nations Security Council call for an international investigation into the downing of the Malaysia Airlines passenger flight. It is vital that those armed groups in control of the region do allow access to the crash site and ensure that its integrity is maintained. It is most vital for the families that have lost loved ones that their relatives receive dignified, respectful, and professional treatment in the recovery operation. The tragedy of MH17 shows just how quickly an internal conflict within a country can spiral out of control, and how a conflict thousands of miles from New Zealand can affect us all. It is vital that the international community, as well as seeking justice for the victims of MH17 and their families, puts all of its efforts into promoting peace in the Ukraine. Thank you.

This grave matter concerns our nation, and because we should speak in condemnation with one voice, New Zealand First endorses the comments of the Prime Minister and other party leaders.

Tēnā koe, Mr Speaker. Tēnā tātau katoa e te Whare. He pai tonu tō karakia i te rā nei hei tīmatanga kōrero i a tātau e kōrero nei i tēnei take. He kupu kōrero tērā ki te wāhi ngāro kia ūhia mai ngā manaakitanga ki runga i tēnei Whare, otirā, i te motu, te ao. Me mihi ki a koe mō tō āhua i te rā nei. Tērā pea he kupu kōrero tērā kia ūhia anōtia rā ki runga i ngā whānau e tangi nei i tēnei wā.

Nō reira, koutou e tangi nei i tēnei rā, anei te Whare Pāremata o Aotearoa e tuku ana i ngā poroporoaki ki ō koutou mate ahakoa nō hea wērā mate, nō tēhea takiwā o te ao hei tāpiri ki tā koutou e tangi nei i tēnei wā. Koutou i mate i te āhuatanga o aituā, tau atu.

Ēngari, anei tēnei Whare Pāremata e tangi nei mō te āhuatanga o te rāwekeweke i a koutou. E te Whare Pāremata, kei te tautoko ake te Pāti Māori i tā te Pirimia e kōrero nei. Hāunga te āhuatanga pakanga waiho tērā ki te taha. Ko tā te Pāti Māori e kī nei me whakaaro tātau mō te hunga mate, te hunga kua kōhurutia, kua mate, ēhara nō rātau te hē ēngari, nō te āhuatanga tohe a tētahi i tētahi.

I roto i Te Ao Māori, inā mate te tangata kua noho tapu tērā hei wāhi tapu. E kore tētahi e rāwekeweke ēngari, ka manaakitia tērā wāhi whenua, ka tiakinatia kia noho tapu ki te tirohanga o te tangata. Kāre tātau i te kite i tērā āhuatanga i tēnei wā. Ka haere poka noa te tangata ki runga i te whenua. Kāre ōna take mō te āhuatanga o tērā hunga i kōhurutia. Nō reira, ēhara i te mea mō Te Ao Māori tēnei whakaaro ake kia noho tapu te whenua, kāo, mō te nuinga o te ao. Kia pērā rawa te āhuatanga o te tiaki hunga mate. Kia kaua e rāwekeweke. Waiho rātau kia moe, kia okioki. Kia kaua e takatakahi i te hunga mate. He rā tōna pea ka hoki mai ki te ngau i a koe ēngari, waiho tērā kōrero ki reira.

Koinei te kōrero ka ākina e te Pāti Māori, waiho te hunga mate ki te hunga mate whakahokia ki ō rātau whānau. Kai Ahitereira, kai Tatimana, kai ngā tōpito katoa o te ao ētahi whānau e tangi nei, e auwē nei, e noho mokemoke nei, e noho pouwaru nei nā ngā mate e takoto mai rā i tērā whenua o Ukraine, me kī. Ko te Pāti Māori tēnei e kī nei, ahakoa tō mātau pakupaku, whakahokia ngā tūpāpaku ki ō rātou whānau kia taea ai e rātau te tuku roimata, hūpē kia ngāwari mai ai tēnei mea a mate. Tēnā tātau katoa.

[Greetings to us all in the House. Your prayer today, Mr Speaker, was really an appropriate way to commence our addresses on this matter. There was a plea there to the spiritual realm to protect this House, and indeed the nation and the world. I commend you for the compassion you displayed today. Perhaps there was a plea there as well to protect the families grieving at this point in time.

And so, to you collectively grieving today, here is the Parliament of New Zealand offering its tributes to your dead, regardless of where they are from, and which area of the world, and adding to your laments at this point in time. To you, the dead, victims of the circumstance of calamity, alight.

But here in this House of Parliament we grieve for the meddlesome manner that brought about your death. To the House of Parliament, we the Māori Party absolutely endorse the Prime Minister’s sentiments. We will leave the situation relating to the war to one side. We the Māori Party advocate that we should focus our minds on the dead, the ones who were treacherously murdered, who died through no fault of their own, but rather through the circumstance of contention between one and another.

When a person dies, in Māoridom that place becomes a sacred one, a forbidden place. No one can meddle with it, but instead that place is protected and looked after so that it remains sacred to one’s view. To date we have not seen that situation. People merely tramp about on the land. They display no respect for those people who were treacherously murdered. This regard for the land to remain sacred is therefore not just a Māori thing but one that most of the world has as well. And that is the level of respect expected for those who have died. They must not be meddled with. They should be allowed to sleep and rest. The dead must not be violated. A day might perhaps come when they come back and bite you, but leave that sort of talk there.

This is what the Māori Party urges: leave the dead amongst the dead, but return them to their families. There are some families in Australia, Holland, and in every extremity of the world, mourning, crying and left lonely and widowed by the dead lying over there in the land of Ukraine. This is the Māori Party saying that despite the fact that we might be small in number, we demand that the deceased be returned to their families, to enable them to shed their tears and mucus upon them, and to ease the pain from this thing called death. Thank you all.]

Motion agreed to.

Gaza—Conflict