New Zealand Parliament’s Māori protocols are under review after two senior Labour women MP’s were asked to move from the front row during a welcome ceremony to visitors.
In seeking the review Speaker, David Carter, says he wants to “modernise” the protocols making them acceptable to a diversified Parliament.
The review was prompted by Parliament’s longest serving woman MP, Annette King and her Labour colleague Maryan Street who were asked to move from the front bench during a powhiri at the start of the Youth Parliament several months ago.
The NZ Herald reports that Mrs King and Ms Street came in late and when they sat on the front row alongside the Speaker, they were asked to shift by Kura Moeahu, who assists Parliament’s kaumatua, Rose White-Tahuparae.
David Carter said he thought the event embarrassing to the two women, and said he had also received feedback from other MP’s.
Sources
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