The principle that all MPs are honourable and that they should be taken at their word has been tested multiple times this week in Parliament.
One of the foundational principles of Parliament is that all MPs are honourable and that they should be taken at their word.
However, the word of MPs has been challenged multiple times this week in the House, and Parliament's Speaker Gerry Brownlee used a flexible approach when issue was raised about it.
During an exchange in Question Time the Opposition's Barbara Edmonds asked Finance Minister Nicola Willis if she agreed with former prime minister John Key that "her commitment to fully fund her tax changes through Public Service cuts is too hard and risks plunging the country into discontent, as reported by the New Zealand Herald?"
In response, Willis said Key would be very unhappy that his comments were being mis-characterised.
"I would put to her that we should have honour in this House with comments that we make and how we represent others," Willis said.
At this, Labour's Kieran McAnulty raised a point of order, reminding the Speaker that MPs take fellow members by their word.
"Barbara Edmonds was quoting John Key. If the minister disagrees with that, she should say so. She should not be questioning the honour of members in this House in order to respond to a fair question," McAnulty said.
Labour MP Barbara Edmonds
It's one thing for an MP to challenge how something is characterised by a fellow MP, but quite another to bring their honour into doubt in the process.
The Speaker agreed that all members elected to this House are considered honourable members, and that Willis' reference was problematic, saying a "withdrawal and apology for the reference to the dishonourable nature of members would be helpful to the whole House". Willis withdrew and apologised.
Unparliamentary language
A presiding officer can direct a member to withdraw and apologise for their comment if it's deemed to be unparliamentary language.
Unparliamentary language can include offensive words or references to a member's private affairs, imputations of improper motives against another MP, accusations of racism or lying.
Implying that an MP is lying is considered one of the worst offences, being an offence not just against the MP it's directed at but the whole House.
Today though, during general debate, opposition MP Duncan Webb raised a point of order when MPs on the government benches interjected, shouting that his fellow Labour MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan was "making it up". Webb said this "must be an unparliamentary remark". Brownlee's response drew laughs…