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Welcome to Inside Politics, the first week back for Parliament this year and a sense of deja vu in that it was completely dominated by coalition partners Winston Peters and David Seymour, despite valiant attempts by the Government to set the agenda.
Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill, his push for greater privatisation of state services and assets, and Peters' low blows at Green Party immigrant MPs pretty much dominated the agenda.
The most success the Government had in breaking through the fog was its move to restore the first of 13 selected 80km/h speed limits to 100km/h, which was fronted by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Wairarapa. It is highly popular with motorists. No wonder they are staggering the roll-out through to July.
Luxon may have hoped to get a break from Mike Hosking, who also returned this week from the summer break to host the Newstalk ZB breakfast show.
But the PM got the hiding of his life from Hosking, who was frustrated over the lack of action on raising speed limits on the Pūhoi to Warkworth highway and the Commerce Commission reports, as well as how long it had taken to announce the digital nomad visa policy.
“My frustration with you is you’re too much yack and not enough do,” Hosking said. “My frustration with you is you are well-intentioned, but you are running out of time. You’re gonna run out of runway if you don’t start kicking some a*** and getting this country moving.”
Hosking promised he would be on his case all year.
The Greens have written to the Prime Minister and Speaker about the “racist and xenophobic” comments by Peters and Shane Jones aimed at the Green Party’s immigrant MPs, Mexico-born Ricardo Menendez March, Philippines-born Francisco Hernandez and China-born Lawrence Xu-Nan.
It was obvious that nothing would be done and that the letter would encourage them more – and indeed it has. Jones doubled down this morning, describing it as “a Mexican standoff” and the complainants as cry babies and sooks.
Earlier in Question Time, Peters had been called Trump by the Greens' end of the House before Jones suggested in Trumpian fashion to “send the Mexicans home”.
It was not one-way traffic. The Greens were deliberately disrupting Peters in his speech on the Prime Ministers' statement.
Hernandez interjected first on privatisation and Peters snapped back with a general insult.
“Took the bait,” said Hernandez.
Peters snapped again with a general insult.
“Keep rambling,” said Hernandez.
But then the response was aimed at their origins. Peters went completely over the top. “Come to this country, show some gratitude,” Peters said. He suggested the MPs were trying to push “their ideas, foreign to our country, native to theirs” on Parliament.
To Xu-Nan, who had interjected when Peters was talking about “Aotearoa”, Peters snapped back: “Some of us have been here 1000 years, and we’re not taking your dictatorship.”
Peters referred to people as “Sunshine” eight times this week – always a sign of disrespect and bellicosity.
When Deputy Speaker Greg O’Connor stepped in and asked Peters to use MPs' names and respect the tikanga of the House, Peters replied: “We don’t have tikanga in this House; get that straight.”
If it sounds like Peters is out of control, think again. It appears to be a deliberate strategy in a two-year election campaign.
Today is the second day of select committee hearings on the Treaty Principles Bill. The first day on Monday went extremely well. Most submissions were informative and well-presented. Submitters were treated with respect by chairman James Meager and, with one exception (see Brickbat), committee members asked good questions.
The Herald‘s Julia Gabel, who sat through them all, was most impressed by clear arguments put forward by Dame Marilyn Waring, lawyer Natalie Coates and historian Vincent O’Malley in opposing the bill, and pollster David Farrar in supporting it.
Mariameno Kapa-Kingi yesterday to Children’s Minister Karen Chhour at select committee: “You’ve got a gap of knowledge, Minister, you don’t understand the essence of being Māori.”
Chhour’s statement later: “As a Māori person who has experienced the care system, I can tell you there is no difference between a Māori child and any other child when it comes to care and protection. They all want to know they are loved, safe, and cared for by those who are supposed to love them.”
Besides Dame Tariana Turia, the deaths of two other former MPs were marked by Parliament this week. Who were they? (Answer below.)
Normally polite first-term National MP Rima Nakhle appeared to question why Ganesh Nana, an economist and former Productivity Commissioner, would be making a submission on the Treaty Principles Bill earlier this week. After establishing he had a PhD in economics, she said: “So when you were working in 2021, we went into one of our worst recessions in history – but thank you for your comments.” That is not the way to treat submitters.
Goes to Labour’s Arena Williams for the wittiest quip of the week. In response to Peters saying the present Government had grabbed the wheel after Labour’s massive economic tanker had been on autopilot and heading for disaster, she replied: “What wheel? You don’t have any ships.” (He’s the minister in charge of finding new Cook Strait ferries.)
Speed limits: The Government has announced the reversal of speed limit reductions on a large number of New Zealand roads.
Treaty bill: Kiri Allan is the latest former politician to voice opposition to the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, telling the Herald it will go down as a “black mark” on our history.
RSE apology: New Zealand has apologised to Pacific countries for failing to consult them about changes to policies for RSE workers.
Committee reshuffle: Finance and Expenditure Committee chairman Stuart Smith has been replaced by first-term Upper Harbour MP Cameron Brewer.
ANALYSIS - asset sales: Suddenly, a lot of people are talking about privatisation – including National (but in very hushed tones), writes Thomas Coughlan.
Digital nomads: People visiting New Zealand on short stays will be allowed to work remotely under a “digital nomad” scheme launched by the Government.
Kiribati cancellation: Kiribati has defended its last-minute decision to call off a meeting between President and Foreign Minister Taneti Maamau and Foreign Minister Winston Peters.
Treaty bill: Impassioned arguments for and against the controversial Treaty Principles Bill have been heard by the Justice Select Committee on day one of public submissions.
OPINION - Waitangi Day: Christopher Luxon could learn a lot from Bill English’s 2017 visit to Ngāti Whātua, writes Simon Wilson.
Ambassador pick: President Donald Trump wants businessman and philanthropist Jared Novelly to serve as the next US Ambassador to New Zealand.
Quiz answer: Former Foreign Affairs and Education Minister Russell Marshall, and former Labour MP for Northcote and North Shore mayor Ann Hartley.
For more political news and views, listen to On the Tiles, the Herald’s politics podcast.
Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith will also make a formal apology to local iwi.