New Zealand First is being blamed for delaying five Treaty of Waitangi settlement bills but its leader, Winston Peters, says that's "balderdash".
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters speaks to reporters at Parliament (file). Photo: RNZ / Jane Patterson
The government and the Māori Party are furious, and say New Zealand First is blocking the bills in an appalling stunt that is causing chaos.
They said it had ruined the travel arrangements of 400 people who wanted to attend Parliament on Thursday and Friday to see the bills be passed.
New Zealand First's change of heart on whether it could support the legislation meant the bills would require party votes rather than passing unanimously.
But, to cast party votes, political parties needed to have at least 75 percent of their MPs on Parliament's grounds, which was now, apparently, too late to organise.
New Zealand First's decision left Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee livid.
"New Zealand First was there, they agreed, and it wasn't until late morning yesterday that they changed they mind.
"It's a stunt, it's got the guy in the headlines - he's out there again using the words like 'constitutional outrage' etc.
"It's complete rubbish - this is just a very sad occasion for those people who have been denied the opportunity they could have had on Friday," Mr Brownlee said.
Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
In Parliament this afternoon, Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell let rip.
"Over 400 people were coming to Wellington from the Far North, coming from Taranaki, coming from Manawatu.
"Why? Because they wanted their day in the sun, Mr Speaker, they've been waiting for Te Atiawa - 30 years to come to this Parliament, I was there, I met the people, I know their pain - unlike some of this lot.
"So it's a huge disappointment that they've been let down, and they should never trust New Zealand First to back them, never back them at all."
However, New Zealand First deputy leader Ron Mark said the party only realised during its caucus meeting this week it could not support two of the bills.
New Zealand First deputy leader Ron Mark Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
"I left the caucus, rang Gerry Brownlee immediately and said 'to give you an early heads up Gerry, I have to tell you we won't be supporting two of those bills - we will have to vote on them'.
"Gerry Brownlee did what he always does, bluff and bluster, throw his toys out of the cot," Mr Mark said.
He said the government had the numbers to put the House into urgency and pass the bills whenever it likes, but the reason the government could not do that on Friday was it had "let most of their MPs go on holiday early".
Mr Peters said Mr Brownlee and the Māori Party were being absolute drama queens.
"This bill has 108 members of Parliament supporting it, so how can it be that one party is being blamed for stopping the legislation going through?
"It's just balderdash."
Mr Brownlee said it was still likely the treaty bills would be passed before Christmas.
