Te Pāti Māori's Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke interrupted the vote on the Treaty Principles Bill's first reading with a haka taken up by members of the opposition and people in the public gallery. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar says she was just doing her homework when she requested advice about the range of punishments possible for Te Pāti Māori MPs following last year's Treaty Principles haka - all the way up to imprisonment.
Dr Parmar sits on the Privileges Committee, which ultimately recommended a 21-day suspension for Te Pāti Māori's co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer for their part in a haka at the conclusion of the First Reading of the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill.
MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, who started the haka but had since expressed contrition, faces a one-week suspension.
The Committee found the MPs had behaved in an intimidating manner when they moved from their seats to face Act Party MPs.
The Privileges Committee sought advice on possible penalties while preparing its recommendations. Dr Parmar asked if this could include a range of examples, including imprisonment, to "help put any proposed penalty in context".
Dr Parmar told Midday Report she supports the 21-day suspension the committee recommended.
"I want to be really clear that I wasn't suggesting that should be the end recommendation by the Privileges Committee," Dr Parmar said.
She said the committee had to look at all options available.
"I wasn't arguing that imprisonment should be the recommendation. I wanted to see what actions led to different kinds of punishments in that whole spectrum.
"...It is about doing proper homework."
Privileges Committee member and ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar. Photo: Supplied / NZ National Party
"ACT did not argue for imprisonment, but we like to keep our options open," a spokesperson for the party said earlier.
"The Committee sought advice on possible penalties, including international precedents with explanations of what actions led to those penalties. Dr Parmar asked if this could include examples along the full spectrum of responses, from the minimum up to imprisonment."
When asked whether the party considered imprisonment an acceptable punishment for protest, the spokesperson said it supported the right to peaceful protest and to representation in Parliament.
"ACT supports the right to peaceful protest. We also support the right of all New Zealanders to representation in a Parliamentary democracy. Te Pāti Māori threatened that right when they delayed the tally of a crucial vote by leaving their seats, out of turn, in an intimidating manner."
Earlier on Tuesday, the debate on the Privileges Committee's report was adjourned until after the Budget.
Leader of the House Chris Bishop moved that the debate be adjourned until 5 June to focus attention back on the Thursday's Budget.
"This week is Budget week, and frankly, the New Zealand people expect us to focus on growing the economy and getting back to some sort of fiscal sustainability."
Opposition parties opposed the motion.
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