Harawira controversy may lead to oath update

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Fri, 15 Jul 2011 6:10p.m.

The Mana Party leader was kicked out of Parliament yesterday

The Mana Party leader was kicked out of Parliament yesterday

By Emma Joliff

Hone Harawira's attempt to pledge allegiance to the Treaty of Waitangi has renewed debate over whether it's time to update the Parliamentary oath.

The Mana Party leader was kicked out of Parliament yesterday, but that's not the end of the matter.

Harawira says he was swearing his allegiance, first, to the Treaty of Waitangi, then the people of Te Tai Tokerau, the, Maori people generally and those in society who've been marginalised.

“The formal affirmation was the last part of the statement but I never got a chance to say it,” he says.

When Harawira's cloak fell off as he entered Parliament, it was Green MP Kevin Hague who picked it up. Three years ago he too began by swearing allegiance to the Treaty of Waitangi, but was stopped short.

“I had to use the precise words that were on the piece of paper in front of me, which I did, having made my point,” he says.

He says an oath needs to reflect the values of the speakers and Harawira should have been given a second chance. But constitutional lawyer Mai Chen says the law is clear.

“You can't have Parliament that makes the law breaking the law, that is not the example we expect our members of parliament to set,” says Mrs Chen.

So is it time for a new oath?

The current oath was written 54 years ago and requires MPs to say;

“I swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to her majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, her heirs and successors, according to law, so help me god”.

In 2005 Labour introduced a bill to modernise the oaths, but that was thrown out by National last year.

Mai Chen says the oath is just a statute in law and, as such can be changed but only by MPs who've sworn allegiance to the Queen first.

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Comments

28 Jul 2011 09:23p.m.

Geoff wrote:

It is ridiculous to even suggest that one can pledge their allegience to an uninterpretable, outdated, inanimate object like the Treaty of Waitangi. Everyone involved in agreeing, forming, writing and signing it is dead and it has not been reviewed since. Take the bible for example... Does one "praise the lord" or "praise the bible"? Only Hone, the Osama Bin Laden supporter, would consider turning to an inanimate object for direction and leadership.

18 Jul 2011 07:52p.m.

Ran wrote:

@ Jack, the problem with you and nick is you think you know Maori better than Maori. The majority have the biggest say in this country. If you guys have the solutions, why do you do nothing? At least learn a bit of history rather than getting all worked up about ignorant perceptions.

18 Jul 2011 12:42a.m.

PhilBeeNZ wrote:

To "ROSE 17 Jul 2011 7:36pm":
You can't POSSIBLY be serious in your ridiculous statement!
That is SO childish!!
Do you need to be reminded that maori TOO are not indigenous? They are "visitors" - in fact, EVERYONE in NZ is not from here. Grow up and get over it.
We're all here to make this our home.
We have a legal system to make this land a safe society.
Society requires rules, which we all must follow, in order to benefit from society.
Anyone who breaks these rules suffers the backlash of society (in one form or another).
How more simple must I make it, so the likes of you can understand?
It is not Parliament that needs to change to suit Hone-bro...it's completely the reverse. If he can't work within the system, he should make way for someone who WILL work honestly and well for his/her people. There is no room in NZ politics for a rabid dog like The Bro...just as there is no room for silly little schoolboy comments like yours.

17 Jul 2011 10:07p.m.

TDog wrote:

I see my comments did not make it on here. And yet the moderators allow anti Maori sentiment on here, probably because they fear being called PC if they don't. Oh the double standards. Wonder if this will make it.?
And Kiwi Jack you say Brash gets no air time? Perhaps thats because no one wants to listen to him. After all, TV stations axe programmes that don't attract the viewers all the time.

17 Jul 2011 07:36p.m.

ROSE wrote:

All you white people that come to nz you are just visitors go back to england back to the queen get in your boats and go home we dont need people like you, you selfish, ignorant and you bring all yore sickness and drugs into our country we dont need you GO HOME

17 Jul 2011 01:26p.m.

nick a wrote:

@RanThe figures are right..do some research..scientific research not folk stories! I was born here, I did not choose to come! if you have a problem with the european race well thats a bit contradictory living in NZ isnt it? being that it is part of the british commonwealth! wheather you like it or not!

17 Jul 2011 01:14p.m.

michael wrote:

the parlimentary oath is based on the fact that we still under the british system and the commonwealth.
we fly a flag with the ensign of britain on it. when we become independant then we can change the oath.
maori still live under treaty rules. reading the treaty I cannot find where it says that maori must get favouritism
or we must provide a welfare system ,hospitals,schools and the right to priviledged treatment. the maori party is a slap in the face to the treaty because it is based on race
, the pakeha party would not be allowed to even form let alone start. maori should jump back in the canoe and head back to where they came from if they don't like the treaty that says all shall be treated equal.

17 Jul 2011 12:04p.m.

Bill wrote:

'KIWI JACK'...you hit it right on the head mate...well done and I couldnt agree more, Brilliant. I wish some politicians had the courage stand up and say what is really on our minds.

17 Jul 2011 11:58a.m.

Joe wrote:

I dont think we should necessarily swear allegience to the queen, but neither should we have to put up with all this maori bullshit either...after all the maori ate the indigenous people of this land didnt they !!! John Hatfield ( Harawira) should never be allowed in NZ parliament/politics or in fact any other , nor his bunch of racist cronies.

17 Jul 2011 11:21a.m.

jan.. wrote:

The only issue here is the Hone Harawira is the Treaty of Waitanigi minning his own business in his own country called New Zealand and the QueenE2 from England oath, and most likely the far north must be return to its Manas and Whanaus from QE2.. We are considering and respect the QE2 to return the far north to its whanaus..