The ACT Party's had a stoush with the Speaker of the House - over a party lapel pin.
During Question Time, ACT's Todd Stephens was denied his question after refusing to remove the pin, under Parliament rules forbidding party logos.
Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls weighs in on the 'pin-gate' controversy.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Jason Wall's political editor, Welcome you to the show. You
don't have a news talk bpin on to you.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
If I had a newstalk z B pin, it would
be the only thing I'd be wearing all not the
only thing I'd be wearing. No, that's not what I meant.
I meant that I would be wearing it at all times.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Well, do you have a baseball cap? We can do
that for you if you want. Do you understand we
can do you a baseball cap. We can do you
a puffer, but it's also got gold sport on it.
Would you like that?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
God send me some merch gone.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
I can just say, Jerry Browne's big crackdown on the
pelpins seems to be a overreach.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
You think so, Yes, I think that it was pretty
petty by all sides in the house today. I mean,
no one's happy, especially not Jerry Browne, especially not with Seymour.
You know, let me run you through what happened, because
the sort of two issues that happened in the House today.
The first is what you alluded to pingate, and the
issue has been sort of boiling away for a few
days now, and it started when a contingent of Act
(00:51):
in National MP's pointed out that in the House that
tie party Marti and p Hannah Rafati might be. Clark
had party stickers on her laptop, just saying to Aarti
Mardi on the laptop or something like that. Now, Parliament's
rules me that you're not actually allowed to display party
logos in the house. So you know, is it the rules? Yes?
Is it patty to snatch also yes? I think so.
(01:11):
Today Act MP's were all wearing Act Party lapelvins in
the House, but the Speaker was having none of it.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Mister Speaker, the members displaying a badge that i've an
earlier session said we'd remove people from participating in the
question time. I don't want to cost the Greens question,
but I'd suggest that another minister from the government might
now answer the question.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Now.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
David Seymour wasn't happy about this surprise surprise have listened
to what he said.
Speaker 5 (01:40):
Mister Mallard clearly rules that pins were exempt from that
ruling in twenty eighteen. If you are seriously saying that
you're not going to let people ask and answer questions
in this House because they're wearing a pin, has that
been allowed to for year after year, I think more
and more people are going to ask what your priorities
actually are.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
But that's exactly what happened. Jerry Brownly's rulings stood and
the act Minister was given an ultimatum that was Karen
shaw before take off the pin or lose your ability
to answer questions. So they didn't budge, which led to
an incredibly awkward moment when the Green MP wanted to
ask a question to Karen Shaw up Instead of taking
off the pin, the question went to Louise Upstin from
(02:21):
the Government instead. So it was a point of principle
for the Act Party. Was it a good hill to
die on? No, it looks pretty petty. And even if
they're right, old Speakers' rulings do say you are allowed
to wear a party pin. It's not against the rules.
It does look a bit silly. But meanwhile there was
another stoush brewing. David Seymour was also upset over with
the Speaker over another matter. According to a letter that
(02:43):
he had sent to the Speaker last week during a
Select Committee hearing into the repealing of the seven Double
A Act, the repealing of in the Oranga Tamariki Act,
opposition MPs suggested removing act MP Laura Trusk as the
subcommittee chair because, and I quote from the letter here,
it is alleged that our opposition members said people will
be very stressed giving evidence on seven double A when
(03:06):
most submitters will be marty. It would be better to
have someone chairing who is marty or pacifica, as they
won't recognize themselves in you. Now, this didn't end up happening.
It was a bit of a debate, but Laura Trust
remained the chair. Seymour nonetheless complained to the Speaker and
the Speaker didn't budge then either. Now Seymour brought this
up in the House today and this prompted a fiery
(03:26):
response from one Chris Hipkins.
Speaker 6 (03:28):
Mister Speaker, what we've just seen from a minister in
the government is an absolutely outrageous attack on the Speaker
of the House. Now, I appreciate your being very restrained
and your response to that, but you would be well
within your rights to censure David Seymour for this. This
is directly questioning your ruling as a speaker.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
So Actor zero from two today, but I'm sure they'll
be back to do battle with the speaker.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Very soon and we've got a Green and PA who
said something silly.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Indeed, So this is the comment that was made in
the house last night.
Speaker 7 (03:55):
I want you to ask yourself, would you rather be
walking down a dark allie and see a Patch member
or a police officer? For many people in New Zealand,
they would feel safer alone with a Patch member than
the police. And we need to ask ourselves.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
I could so that was Green MP Cahurrangi Kata, and
I think some people might prefer to see Sorry, it
was her saying that people might prefer to see a
Patch gang member. Now, some people might be like that,
but I don't think it's the overwhelming amount of people
in this country. Now. Someone who did take exception to
this was Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith.
Speaker 6 (04:32):
The very suggestion is repugnant and apparently the Green Party
aren't sure.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
So my colleague Demelza Jackson asked co lead to Chloe
Swarbrick if she stood by the comment, and then hit
her with a curve ball at the end to have
a listen.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
The point that Kapungikata was making is that very clearly
the police and mini state agencies do not have the
trust of many of our communities, particularly Mary communities. So yes,
I absolutely do stand by those comments, and I would
actually call upon all members of Parliament and all members
of the Press Gallery who challenge those comments to go
out and talk to Mardy communities who hold those views.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Suits comes your dance.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
There's a lot of contextual and variable victors, John, A.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Lot of contextual factors. For Chloe Swarwick. If she was
walking down a dark alley and there was a choice
between a patch gang member and a cop, I wonder
what those contextual elements are.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Oh, dear goodness man, thank you so much. Jason war
was our political editor.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
For more from Hither Duplessy, Allen Drive.
Speaker 6 (05:30):
Listen live to news Talks it'd be from four pm weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Jason Wall's political editor, Welcome you to the show. You
don't have a news talk bpin on to you.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
If I had a newstalk z B pin, it would
be the only thing I'd be wearing all not the
only thing I'd be wearing. No, that's not what I meant.
I meant that I would be wearing it at all times.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Well, do you have a baseball cap? We can do
that for you if you want. Do you understand we
can do you a baseball cap. We can do you
a puffer, but it's also got gold sport on it.
Would you like that?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
God send me some merch gone.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
I can just say, Jerry Browne's big crackdown on the
pelpins seems to be a overreach.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
You think so, Yes, I think that it was pretty
petty by all sides in the house today. I mean,
no one's happy, especially not Jerry Browne, especially not with Seymour.
You know, let me run you through what happened, because
the sort of two issues that happened in the House today.
The first is what you alluded to pingate, and the
issue has been sort of boiling away for a few
days now, and it started when a contingent of Act
(00:51):
in National MP's pointed out that in the House that
tie party Marti and p Hannah Rafati might be. Clark
had party stickers on her laptop, just saying to Aarti
Mardi on the laptop or something like that. Now, Parliament's
rules me that you're not actually allowed to display party
logos in the house. So you know, is it the rules? Yes?
Is it patty to snatch also yes? I think so.
(01:11):
Today Act MP's were all wearing Act Party lapelvins in
the House, but the Speaker was having none of it.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Mister Speaker, the members displaying a badge that i've an
earlier session said we'd remove people from participating in the
question time. I don't want to cost the Greens question,
but I'd suggest that another minister from the government might
now answer the question.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Now.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
David Seymour wasn't happy about this surprise surprise have listened
to what he said.
Speaker 5 (01:40):
Mister Mallard clearly rules that pins were exempt from that
ruling in twenty eighteen. If you are seriously saying that
you're not going to let people ask and answer questions
in this House because they're wearing a pin, has that
been allowed to for year after year, I think more
and more people are going to ask what your priorities
actually are.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
But that's exactly what happened. Jerry Brownly's rulings stood and
the act Minister was given an ultimatum that was Karen
shaw before take off the pin or lose your ability
to answer questions. So they didn't budge, which led to
an incredibly awkward moment when the Green MP wanted to
ask a question to Karen Shaw up Instead of taking
off the pin, the question went to Louise Upstin from
(02:21):
the Government instead. So it was a point of principle
for the Act Party. Was it a good hill to
die on? No, it looks pretty petty. And even if
they're right, old Speakers' rulings do say you are allowed
to wear a party pin. It's not against the rules.
It does look a bit silly. But meanwhile there was
another stoush brewing. David Seymour was also upset over with
the Speaker over another matter. According to a letter that
(02:43):
he had sent to the Speaker last week during a
Select Committee hearing into the repealing of the seven Double
A Act, the repealing of in the Oranga Tamariki Act,
opposition MPs suggested removing act MP Laura Trusk as the
subcommittee chair because, and I quote from the letter here,
it is alleged that our opposition members said people will
be very stressed giving evidence on seven double A when
(03:06):
most submitters will be marty. It would be better to
have someone chairing who is marty or pacifica, as they
won't recognize themselves in you. Now, this didn't end up happening.
It was a bit of a debate, but Laura Trust
remained the chair. Seymour nonetheless complained to the Speaker and
the Speaker didn't budge then either. Now Seymour brought this
up in the House today and this prompted a fiery
(03:26):
response from one Chris Hipkins.
Speaker 6 (03:28):
Mister Speaker, what we've just seen from a minister in
the government is an absolutely outrageous attack on the Speaker
of the House. Now, I appreciate your being very restrained
and your response to that, but you would be well
within your rights to censure David Seymour for this. This
is directly questioning your ruling as a speaker.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
So Actor zero from two today, but I'm sure they'll
be back to do battle with the speaker.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Very soon and we've got a Green and PA who
said something silly.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Indeed, So this is the comment that was made in
the house last night.
Speaker 7 (03:55):
I want you to ask yourself, would you rather be
walking down a dark allie and see a Patch member
or a police officer? For many people in New Zealand,
they would feel safer alone with a Patch member than
the police. And we need to ask ourselves.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
I could so that was Green MP Cahurrangi Kata, and
I think some people might prefer to see Sorry, it
was her saying that people might prefer to see a
Patch gang member. Now, some people might be like that,
but I don't think it's the overwhelming amount of people
in this country. Now. Someone who did take exception to
this was Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith.
Speaker 6 (04:32):
The very suggestion is repugnant and apparently the Green Party
aren't sure.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
So my colleague Demelza Jackson asked co lead to Chloe
Swarbrick if she stood by the comment, and then hit
her with a curve ball at the end to have
a listen.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
The point that Kapungikata was making is that very clearly
the police and mini state agencies do not have the
trust of many of our communities, particularly Mary communities. So yes,
I absolutely do stand by those comments, and I would
actually call upon all members of Parliament and all members
of the Press Gallery who challenge those comments to go
out and talk to Mardy communities who hold those views.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Suits comes your dance.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
There's a lot of contextual and variable victors, John, A.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Lot of contextual factors. For Chloe Swarwick. If she was
walking down a dark alley and there was a choice
between a patch gang member and a cop, I wonder
what those contextual elements are.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Oh, dear goodness man, thank you so much. Jason war
was our political editor.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
For more from Hither Duplessy, Allen Drive.
Speaker 6 (05:30):
Listen live to news Talks it'd be from four pm weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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