PARLIAMENTARY REPORT
JURISDICTION NAME NEW ZEALAND
CONCLUSION OF THE ADDRESS IN REPLY DEBATE
On 30 October 2014, the Address in Reply debate concluded after 19 hours of speeches over six sitting days. The debate was in response to the Speech from the Throne delivered by the Governor-General, His Excellency Lieutenant General the Rt Hon. Sir Jerry Mateparae, on 20 October at the State Opening of the 51st Parliament outlining the government’s policy and legislative intentions. The debate concluded with the passing of a motion to present a respectful Address in Reply to His Excellency the Governor-General by 64 votes to 57, after the defeat of an amendment to the address proposed by the Acting Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Ms Annette King, MP.
A majority of the 121 Members of Parliament had participated in the wide-ranging debate about the government’s plans and other current issues following speeches given by the leaders of all parties represented in the 51st Parliament – National, Labour, Green, New Zealand First, Māori Party, United Future, and ACT.
Of the 28 new members, 24 had the chance in the debate to make their maiden speeches, many of whom spoke in Te Reo Māori (the Māori Language), one of New Zealand’s three
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official languages alongside English and New Zealand Sign Language. Mr Peeni Henare, MP, (Labour) said: “Te Reo Māori is my first language. As one of the first children of kōhanga reo [Māori language immersion preschool] I am forever grateful for the hard work of many to ensure that the native language of this land is not lost.” Mr Nuk Korako, MP, (National), Mr Adrian Rurawhe, MP, (Labour) and Ms Marama Fox, MP, (Co-leader – Māori Party) all gave substantial portions of their speech in Māori, and New Zealand First member Mr Fletcher Tabuteau, and National members Dr Shane Reti, Ms Barbara Kuriger, Mr Jono Naylor, Mr Mahesh Bindra, and Mr Andrew
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Bayly opened their speeches in Māori. Simultaneous translation of these speeches, and of all Māori spoken in the House, is available in the House and galleries, and on Parliament TV – a service provided since 2010.
Countering Terrorist Fighters Legislation Bill In a ministerial statement to the House on 4 November 2014, the Prime Minister, Rt Hon. John Key, MP, (National) spoke of the implications for the government’s national security obligations in the face of the rapid rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and referred to Cabinet’s agreement to introduce law changes in
the short term ahead of a broader intelligence review in 2015: “I intend to seek broad political support to pass this very limited legislation, which I trust that other parties will see as narrow and responsible.” The measures would restrict the movements of individuals intending to travel to become foreign terrorist fighters.
In the debate that followed
Mr Key’s statement, Ms Annette King, MP, (Acting Deputy Leader—Labour) said: “Labour broadly supports the provisions as outlined today, and we believe that they appear to be justified to ensure safety at home as well as meeting our international obligations.” She supported the proposed legislation “going to the
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