Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill

Point of order, Mr Speaker.

💬 SPEAKER: Point of order, remembering that I haven’t yet declared a vote.

CHLÖE SWARBRICK: It was on that question, though.

💬 SPEAKER: OK.

CHLÖE SWARBRICK: I call that a personal vote be held on that question which has just been put, under Standing Order 142.

If you read the Standing Orders, you can’t do that until you know what the vote is. It’s quite clear. I’ll just make this explanation, for anyone who is watching. The limitations on a Speaker accepting a motion for a personal vote are in our Standing Orders: reason to believe that there is a gap between the vote legitimately cast by party whips and the intentions of members. That needs to be signalled by a member; it cannot be called for by other members—quite clear.

The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill: the Ayes are 68; the Noes are 55.

Motion agreed to.

Point of order, Mr Speaker. To be clear: the Green Party will allow all of our MPs to vote in line with their conscience and we will not whip our MPs. So, on that note, I call for a personal vote to be held on that question on the Treaty principles bill at first reading, under Standing Order 142.

No, I’m not accepting that. The time for the Green Party to notify me or the Clerk that there was to be a personal vote by its members would have been before the party vote was cast. That is very clear. It’s been clear for nearly—how long? Since 1996. So there’s nothing new in that.

Bill read a first time.

Point of order, Mr Speaker. I reflect on your naming of one member for grossly disorderly conduct. I wonder if others who participated in the same action might also be suitable to name for doing the same thing; in particular, getting out of their seats and coming up to the desks of members from the opposite side of the House. As you know, that’s been the subject of a matter of privilege. I wonder if your guidance is that it should be raised that way or if perhaps they too should be named.

Well, thank you for your question. I would suggest that if you think there has been a matter of privilege breached, then a letter stating that would be the next course of action. It is, in this case—naming is a very serious thing, and I certainly don’t do it lightly or with any degree of personal satisfaction whatsoever. But it is the instigator of the disorder that should receive that very, very high penalty. If you think there is more to be done, then write me a letter.

The question is, That the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill be considered by the Justice Committee.