Order!
The House has received a message from the Member for Nu Tireni, Michael Bassett (LAB) to introduce a bill, namely the New Zealand Bill, presented as Government's Bill on behalf of the Member for Nu Tireni, Michael Bassett (LAB). The bill is authored by Michael Bassett.
Bill Details
Debate Required
The question before us is whether the bill should be read urgently. Debate commenced and concluded at 6pm, 14th of January. The Clerk obtained a copy to be published in the House's Hansard records. The debate is recorded as follows:
Speaker: Jimmy Lydon (National)
Mr Lydon: Mr Speaker, this bill is an attempt to destroy our very way of life and this country. It's a constitutional overhaul, not a good one. It's undemocratic, unwanted, and unneeded. Yet, this Prime Minister has decided to keep going with this BS because he is a tyrant and a monster with the sole intention of destroying this country just for the sake of power.
Nobody voted for this.
The Prime Minister has time and time again brought forward legislation that was not in the Labour manifesto and was hidden from the people of New Zealand. Because if they had seen and known what he'd do, they would never have voted for him or his miserable party. And I say "shame" to all of the Labour MPs who continue to prop up and support the Prime Minister. You know in your hearts this is wrong, and yet you go along with this.
Not to mention, under the most basic part of New Zealand law, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, this bill is illegal. The treaty is bound to the Crown, and with this law, it effectively turns New Zealand into a republic by removing the Monarch's appointed representative in New Zealand by abolishing the position of Governor-General. The Monarch Muldoon is, in short, turning this country into a republic just so he can have nobody above him, merely us peasants below him.
I am admittedly stunned for words by how far this Prime Minister has been willing to go, and almost impressed by the fact he is so arrogant to think this is acceptable.
The bill speaks for itself, and I speak for us all when I proudly say I will vote no. And if it does pass, then I call upon the Governor-General to serve this country and veto it.
God help us all.
Speaker: Michael Bassett (Labour)
Mr Bassett: Mr Speaker, God bless the New Zealand Labour Party.
Speaker: Daniel Garcia (ACT)
Mr Garcia: Ladies and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, I stand before you to affirm my position on the New Zealand Bill that seeks to end the separation of powers and transform New Zealand into a one-party state. The New Zealand Bill is an attack on the foundation of democracy and the core values that we hold dear as a nation. We shall not let the government do this. And quite frankly, I don't know why anyone in this chamber would vote for this bill. Surely someone from the government side of the house would oppose this bill and stop the government's reign of terror on our democratic rights.
If someone votes for this bill, they are selfish losers who are absolute P****** who would rather do what's best for them instead of doing what's best for the nation as a whole. This is our last stand for New Zealand democracy, and I am proud of the people who want to say no to the bill. I will say this now. We will not be China, We will not be Cuba, and we will not be North Korea! This is New Zealand, and we are a democratic nation, always have been, always will be, and no one, not even the government, can attack democracy without heavy opposition.
Let me now talk about this undemocratic bill. According to this bill, we will now have a president as the head of state. I think that it is a good idea because we shouldn't have some British monarch half a world away being the head of state. With that being said, I still won't support this bill as there are many, many flaws with it. For starters, the president has to be from the Labour Party and is not elected by the people and is instead elected by a few elites from the inner circle of the Labour Party. I don't know about you, but there seems to be a pattern.
Assistant Speaker Shane Mini: Order.
While I appreciate the Gentleman's remark before the House, I ask the honourable Gentleman, please, to address the Chair when leaving remarks. Thank you.
Speaker: George Grey (Labour)
Mr Grey: Mister Speaker, this bill will protect New Zealand from any further terrorist-like activities or behaviour, behaviour which the opposition has shown time and time again.
Speaker: Theresa May Jr (ACT)
Ms May: Mister Speaker, this bill is a shame to our society, which loves freedom and democracy!
With that being said, I seek leave to move that an amendment be made to remove all provisions from Part 1 to Part 6.