Politics live Dec 11
A fiery question time
I am watching live as MPs across political parties are holding each other to account in the House for question time. Winston Peters is acting Prime Minister while Christopher Luxon is in Australia for his daughter's university graduation.
It has been a colourful question time, with much heckling from both sides.
The political left erupted into heckling when Workplace Relations Minister, Brooke van Velden, said workers would be better off as a result of the Government's plans to repeal the Fair Pay Agreement legislation. She was facing questions from Teanau Tuiono from the Green Party.
Peters was asked a question in te reo Māori by Te Pāti Māori co-leader, Rawiri Waititi, but Peters refused to answer it because he does not speak te reo Māori. Waititi was asked if he would ask his question in English, but he said no. There is also an interpreter at Parliament.
Peters' NZ First colleague, Shane Jones, was spotted whispering to Peters when he sat back down in his chair, possibly translating what was asked.
This has now created a discussion about how MPs respond to questions in te reo Māori.
Later we will hear maiden speeches from Hana Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke (Te Pāti Māori) at 5.15pm, followed by National's Tim Costley at 5.30pm, and Takuta Ferris (Te Pāti Māori) at 5.45pm.
It has been a colourful question time, with much heckling from both sides.
The political left erupted into heckling when Workplace Relations Minister, Brooke van Velden, said workers would be better off as a result of the Government's plans to repeal the Fair Pay Agreement legislation. She was facing questions from Teanau Tuiono from the Green Party.
Peters was asked a question in te reo Māori by Te Pāti Māori co-leader, Rawiri Waititi, but Peters refused to answer it because he does not speak te reo Māori. Waititi was asked if he would ask his question in English, but he said no. There is also an interpreter at Parliament.
Peters' NZ First colleague, Shane Jones, was spotted whispering to Peters when he sat back down in his chair, possibly translating what was asked.
This has now created a discussion about how MPs respond to questions in te reo Māori.
Later we will hear maiden speeches from Hana Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke (Te Pāti Māori) at 5.15pm, followed by National's Tim Costley at 5.30pm, and Takuta Ferris (Te Pāti Māori) at 5.45pm.