7. PITA PARAONE (NZ First) Link to this
to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
What has been New Zealand’s response to reports of North Korea conducting a nuclear test?
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Minister of Foreign Affairs) Link to this
Madam Speaker—[ Interruption] I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I have not even got to start my answer before one or two impertinent members over there call me by my first name, and given how junior they are they should not be doing that—let alone the other Standing Orders we have in this House. Could you possibly ask them to desist, so that we can get on with what is a very serious matter and answer this question?
Madam SPEAKERWould members please restrain themselves so that we can get through question time with members being heard. I call the Rt Hon Winston Peters.
David BennettRt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
Now the bald one is at it again. Madam Speaker, when you were making that ruling he started again.
Will the member please be seated. I will just remind members of the rules. In fact, interjections are permitted; barracking is not. Members are to be respected. They are to be heard when they both ask questions and answer questions. Would those members who persistently interject in that way please be on notice that they will be asked to leave the House if that disruptive behaviour continues. Would the Rt Hon Winston Peters please address the question. [ Interruption]
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Now Judith Collins decides she will join this—
Judith CollinsWould you both sit down and we will start again. A comment was made by Paula Bennett. I did not hear a comment from Judith Collins. There may have been a mishearing—[ Interruption] Yes, I am sorry, Ms Bennett, but you did make a comment—I saw you and I heard you. I ask members for the last time to please put themselves under control so that we can get the Minister to address this question. []
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. There they go again. With respect, this is a serious matter, and I think they should be required not to break the rules of this House. Lockwood Smith is doing it right now—he has no right to be talking when a point of order is being made. If that is going to go on, I do not know why there is seemingly a special set of rules for those members, who speak in unison—at least 10 at a time—when serious questions are being asked and answered in this House. You have already told those members twice, and they started back again—Lockwood Smith in particular, and he cannot deny it. He is meant to be a member who has been around here for a time.
I do not need any more comment on this. This is becoming—[ Interruption] Please be seated! I ask members to please refrain. Mr Peters, members are entitled to interject when questions and answers are being given. They are not, however, entitled ever to use unparliamentary language. I did not hear any unparliamentary language. So would you please—
Nandor TanczosI have not finished. I would now like—unless there is a totally new point of order—the Minister to address the question. We have almost forgotten what the question is. Now, a point of order from Nandor Tanczos—and it had better be a point of order.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. My point of order is just to ask you to clarify that you will be applying the same rules to Mr Peters, whose interjections I have had since the beginning of the session.
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. With respect, if that was the view of the member who has just resumed his seat, then he should have said so then, and not made some contemptible attempt to get even now. That is what the Standing Orders state—raise it at the first instance. Now I will get on to the answer.
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
New Zealand utterly condemns North Korea’s claims of having conducted a nuclear test—[ Interruption]
Would the member please restrain herself. We need the answer to this question. Mr Peters, would you please continue to address the question.
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I am very happy to continue, but in the way that these members deserve. If they want a free-for-all, they will get it. But we have rules in this House, and those members should be abiding by them.
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
New Zealand utterly condemns North Korea’s claims of having conducted a nuclear test.
Sandra GoudieIf members want to make interventions, please consider them before speaking. Now would the Rt Hon Winston Peters please address the question.
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
That has been the precise origin of the problem! Such action is inconsistent with the behaviour expected of a State seeking security under guarantees from the international community. Overnight, New Zealand’s disarmament ambassador at the UN conveyed those views during the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s first committee on disarmament.
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
We will not be taking National’s traditional measure of sending a boat or a plane—the Carter position, from down south. New Zealand supports a firm international response that addresses North Korea’s unacceptable behaviour while avoiding further deterioration of the situation.
Gerry BrownleeRt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
What it means is what I said. If the woodwork teacher could keep quiet for 5 seconds, maybe his colleagues would be better informed. What it means, Mr Brownlee, is that the Government is taking a responsible position and not the five different positions the National Party has had in the last 5 years. [ Interruption] We will not have it over by lunchtime—[] No, it will not be over by lunchtime, but we are working closely with others—
Would both members please be seated. I am tempted to say: “Let’s go back and start again.” Members, this is an important issue, so please enable the Minister to address the question on what is to be done.
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
A firm position is not the shoehorn with which he gets himself into his seat every morning. We are working closely with others to identify actions that will deliver an unequivocal message to North Korea that it must stop its nuclear weapons programme and return to the six-party talks—a position I discussed last night with the Secretary of State from the United States.
Darren HughesHas the Minister received any reports or advice on firm positions on nuclear testing from any other organisations in New Zealand?
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
Not in the context of political parties, other than to say that it was my understanding that every political party in this country supported New Zealand’s present non-nuclear position, but there is one party that cannot make up its mind and keeps changing it every campaign.