Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee is warning he will be “more vigilant” when assessing the standard of behaviour in the House following complaints voiced largely by the Act Party.

In a statement ahead of Question Time today, Brownlee told MPs no official complaints had been made to the Commissioner of Parliamentary Standards since their appointment two years ago.

However, noting the criticisms Act had aired publicly about him and his rulings, Brownlee said any comments that were personal of nature were not acceptable in the House and warned he would be “more vigilant”.

Brownlee explained his approach had been one of trusting MPs to behave appropriately and to reflect the wishes of the voters.

“That was perhaps too hopeful a position,” Brownlee said wryly.

He encouraged MPs to approach the commissioner if they had concerns in the future.

Shortly before Question Time, Act leader David Seymour said he expected to see a Speaker who wanted a “reset” following issues between the pair last week.

Last week, members of the Act Party clashed with Brownlee over the wearing of party-themed lapel pins.

The issue contributed to a more serious shot across Brownlee’s bow from Seymour who said his confidence in Brownlee was “falling by the day”.

The lapel pins, worn by Act MPs, were raised following Brownlee’s ruling no party logos could be worn in the House - something National and Act MPs had previously complained about with reference to Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke.

Brownlee prohibited Act MP Todd Stephenson from asking a question and prevented Act minister Karen Chhour from answering one when MPs continued to wear the pins.

The conflict sat alongside Seymour’s claim Brownlee was failing to address racial harassment in Parliament when it emerged Act MP Laura Trask was opposed in her bid to chair a select committee because she wasn’t Māori or Pasifika and because she wasn’t as experienced as a first-term MP.

Trask had sought to chair a select committee receiving public submissions about the repeal of child protection reforms, which was driven by Act and strenuously opposed by many Māori organisations.

Act leader David Seymour said his confidence in the Speaker was falling. Photo / Mark Mitchell

That then prompted an emotional response from Chhour who felt she and other Act MPs were being unfairly targeted in Parliament, claiming she did not feel it a safe place to work.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon reiterated his call for MPs to tone down divisive language.

Seymour last week suggested National MP and deputy Speaker Barbara Kuriger would be a good replacement for Brownlee, when asked who he thought could hold the top role instead.

Adam Pearse is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team, based at Parliament. He has worked for NZME since 2018, covering sport and health for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei before moving to the NZ Herald in Auckland, covering Covid-19 and crime.