TPM MPs suspended

The House has voted to suspend Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke for seven days, Rawiri Waititi for 21 days and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer for 21 days. The punishment was not for doing a haka. MPs can and do do hakas. It was for doing it during a vote, preventing the House from concluding the vote – and also for crossing the floor to intimidate ACT MPs.

One thing I will almost guarantee – they will not do it again. A 24 hour suspension as Chris Hipkins pleaded for would be a zero disincentive. In fact it would be an incentive. They have never shown one ounce of contrition or apology. A 21 day suspension is long enough to be meaningful and deter them doing it again.