By 3 News online staff with NZN
New Zealand's 50th parliament was sworn in this morning when 121 MPs swore an oath of allegiance to the Queen.
Although
some disagree with the oath there were no rule-breakers and Clerk of
the House Mary Harris swore them all in without incident.
Lockwood Smith was nominated unopposed and declared Speaker for a second term.
He
was led to the chair by two MPs, struggling in the ancient Westminster
tradition which stems from a time when it was a dangerous position to
hold and none wanted it.
"I won't always get things right but I will do my utmost to be fair," Dr Smith told MPs.
He adjourned parliament until 11am on Wednesday for the state opening.
After
the ceremony the Green Party issued a statement calling for the oath to
be modernised and saying there was public support for change.
The
party said its survey of more than 650 people found three-quarters of
them opposed the oath to the Queen while more than 90 per cent supported
an alternative in which MPs pledged to do their best for Aotearoa/New
Zealand.
Harawira shouts in Maori before taking correct oath
Mana Party leader Hone Harawira yelled out to the debating chamber in Maori, before taking the oath of allegiance at Parliament this morning.
It is understood Harawira said "greetings to the treaty", before correctly taking an oath of allegiance to the Queen.
Earlier today Prime Minister John Key said Harawira should stop playing games, and sign the oath like everyone else.
After winning the Te Tai Tokerau by-election earlier this year, Harawira found himself in hot water when he made up his own oath and swore allegiance to the Treaty of Waitangi.
Speaker Lockwood Smith ordered him to leave the debating chamber, and he came back the following week to do it properly.
"I'm not sure how I'll respond when I'm called upon the give the oath," he said earlier today.
"But rest assured I will pledge allegiance to the things that matter."
Mr Key says Mr Harawira is playing games.
"I think he does it to grandstand, not because he genuinely doesn't support the constitutional monarchy we have," Mr Key said.
"Hone Harawira is notorious for playing games, he should get on with it like every other MP."
Green MP Gareth Hughes said he is keen to see the oath modernised.
“Just had to swear allegiance to the Queen to take my seat in Parliament,” he tweeted. “I’m keen to work with others to modernise and make it relevant to NZ.”
3 News/NZN