A new Speaker of Parliament was elected with widespread support today, with his authority tested early by an awkward speech from a rebel MP.
A new Speaker of Parliament was elected today, although a disruptive speech from a rebel MP briefly threatened to spoil the occasion.
The only nominee for the Speaker's position was the MP for Te Tai Hauāuru, Adrian Rurawhe, who takes over from Trevor Mallard who resigned after five years in the role.
Adrian Rurawhe during the election of him as Parliament Speaker
As deputy speaker for the past couple of years, Adrian Rurawhe had plenty of practice managing the responsibilities of Speaker. With more experience than any other previous deputy speaker, he was ready to hit the ground running.
"I think it's really important that I state here today that I will carry on the long tradition of upholding the rights and privileges of this House. I think it's important that all of those rights are upheld and acknowledged - rights and privileges like freedom of speech.
"You are all the voices of all of the people that you represent, and it's important that their voices are heard. We may disagree with each other on both sides of the House, but it's really important that those voices are heard.
"I can say to the House that it's my expectation that the House will hold the government to account," Rurawhe said, adding that he would look to bring change where it is needed.
"I have noticed a few things about Question Time that I think could be improved," he said to applause, "and unfortunately they are numerous!" to which laughter broke out.
"However, some small things could happen-for example, the Government holding itself to account by asking itself questions; some of the answers to those supplementary questions need to be a bit shorter and more succinct.
"I think I would encourage Ministers-and it's quite interesting and a little bit puzzling, actually, that the Government sometimes end question times with a significant number of unused supplementaries. I think some of those supplementaries should be used in this way: some of those answers should be cut down and be less speech-like and more succinct. You could achieve that by asking more supplementaries; failure to do so will see the Opposition receive more supplementaries to do it. That is one thing I can do; there are others as well."
Marama Davidson speaks in acknowledgement of Adrian Rurawhe after he was elected Speaker of Parliament
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