Te Pāti Māori MP Tākuta Ferris committed ‘unforgiveable sin’ with ‘lies’ comment – Shane Jones

New Zealand First minister Shane Jones says Te Pāti Māori MP Tākuta Ferris committed an “unforgiveable sin” by allegedly suggesting he and Winston Peters were “liars”.

He told the Herald he was “astounded” Ferris hadn’t apologised to Parliament.

“He called Winston and I liars and that is an unforgivable sin in our view,” Jones said.

The Herald has contacted Te Pāti Māori for comment on Jones’ remarks.

It came after the Speaker confirmed on Wednesday that Parliament’s powerful Privileges Committee will consider whether Ferris misled the House with comments he made during last week’s general debate.

Last Wednesday, Peters accused Ferris of claiming some members were “masters” of lying. MPs are not allowed to call others liars under House rules.

That allegation came after Ferris said during the general debate knowledge gaps were a “dangerous thing”.

“It allows lies to be presented as truths. Politicians call this obfuscation. The art of making something unclear, intentionally vague, ambiguous, to conceal or obscure the truth, to confuse others. Lies in other words. Many in this House are masters of it and it is a disservice to those who voted you in to your positions.”

Winston Peters and his colleague Shane Jones were irked by a speech by Te Pāti Māori MP Tākuta Ferris.

In response to Peters’ allegation, Speaker Gerry Brownlee said he had not picked up on the comment but advised if Ferris had done such a thing, he should withdraw and apologise.

“I haven’t made that statement,” Ferris responded.

In the House on Wednesday, Brownlee said NZ First’s Jamie Arbuckle had raised a matter of privilege about Ferris’ statement.

The Speaker said there was an “apparent inconsistency between Ferris’ speech and his response to the point of order about it”.

“The offence of calling another member a liar has long been regarded as an offence against the House, which operates on the basis that members behave truthfully and honourably and would normally be dealt with as a matter of order.

“However, in denying that he made the statement, it is possible that Tākuta Ferris has himself deliberately misled the House. That is a matter for the Privileges Committee’s judge. Accordingly, I find that a question of privilege arises and stands referred to [the] Privileges Committee.”

Asked by the Herald on Wednesday afternoon whether he would respond to the complaint, Ferris said: “When I learn what it is.” He didn’t stop walking to elaborate much further. MPs are not meant to discuss matters before the Privileges Committee.

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones on his way to the House. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Jones told the Herald Ferris had been given “every chance” to “show humility”.

“He not only offended Parliament, but he lied to Parliament,” he said.

“There’s been lots of Māori who have tried and failed to come to Parliament, and I personally haven’t struck his level of arrogance in Parliament before,” he said.

The NZ First MP believed Ferris had done “disservice” to those who elected him and believed he would be a “one-term wonder”.

“For Takuta, his conduct is Ngutu pī, talking gibberish. Sadly, his unwillingness to set the record straight casts him in a bad light.”

The Privileges Committee, which acts like Parliament’s court, has been busy over the past year or so. It has considered a number of matters, such as Julie-Anne Genter’s outburst at Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and claims about National MP Tim van de Molen’s behaviour at a select committee.

Jamie Ensor is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team based at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub Press Gallery office.