ACT Party leader David Seymour says Te Pāti Māori should be penalised for shunning their Privileges Committee hearing.
Co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi instead called a press conference and confirmed they intended to hold their own hearing at Parliament on May 7.
Seymour says he's not trying to influence the Committee - but he's suggested they recommend cutting the MPs’ pay.
"What you just heard is a group of people who will continue to undermine the institution of Parliament, and therefore those New Zealanders - the overwhelming majority of New Zealanders from every background who are grateful to live in one of the most successful Parliamentary democracies in human history - they're thumbing their noses at all of us."
LISTEN ABOVE
- 'Watching pornos a reason to go to jail': Barbs fly between senior Māori MPs over haka row
- Watch: ‘F***ing racist’ – Te Pāti Māori MP’s comments in select committee, Act objects
- Te Pāti Māori warns of ‘million Māori’ wrath over cut $30m te reo programme
- Treaty Principles Bill ‘damaging’ Government-Māori relationship, says Labour MP Cushla Tangaere-Manuel
- Jason Walls: Recapping the Te Pāti Māori saga
- Barry Soper: Can Te Pati Māori get away with refusing to attend their hearing?
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