NZ POLITICS DAILY: Smith had a choice over Hone's oath

Hone Harawira's non-swearing in yesterday has predictably generated a lot of comment. While Harawira won't be upset by the furore, the widespread assumption that this was a deliberate stunt aimed at getting him thrown out of parliament is almost certainly wrong.

Andrew Geddis (What if Hone had crossed his fingers?) is clear that the outcome was of Lockwood Smith's choosing: ‘the decision to stop Mr Harawira and tell him he needs to come back on another occasion to take the oath/affirmation properly was not legally required in any way; it was a decision that the Speaker has taken of and by himself’. James Meager (Some reflections on Hone), while not endorsing Harawira's actions agrees that Smith ‘did have a choice’.

Harawira was merely doing what he and other MPs had done previously - adding to the oath he is required under law to take as an MP sitting in parliament. He has to say the exact words but the law does not say he can't add more at the time. My view (Harawira owed an apology – academic; and video) is that Lockwood Smith made the call and should explain why he has changed his policy on this practice. Is it a case of not ‘pandering to Maori radicals’ as ACT and Don Brash put it?

Also predictably there has been repetitive reporting of Harawira's salary and allowances as an MP (Banned Harawira still getting paid) which is irrelevant. He is an elected MP and, as parliament is in recess until the day he will be sworn in, he will be doing exactly what he would have been doing. At most he missed being able to sit in parliament for a few hours yesterday - something most other MPs (who had the legal right to do so) probably missed out of choice.

Mutterings of ‘no respect’ from fellow MPs and condemnations that this is not the way to change laws you don't agree with (New oath call after Hone stunt) are historically ignorant. Actions like this are very often key catalysts in initiating or speeding up changes and this will probably prove to be the case with the archaic oath our MPs are required to take when entering parliament.

But Labour’s tax policy announcement is still the most politically substantive topic of the day. Possibly the most vital items to read on the issue are John Armstrong’s Goff may win the political debate, but a tax is still just that, Gordon Campbell’s On Labour’s tax package, Adam Bennett’s Labour banks on voters ‘doing right thing’, and David Farrar’s Tax package great PR, bad numbers.

Bryce Edwardsm NZPD Editor (bryce.edwards@otago.ac.nz)

Today’s content:

Labour’s tax policy

John Armstrong (NZH): Goff may win the political debate, but a tax is still just that

Gordon Campbell (Scoop): On Labour’s tax package

Adam Bennett (NZH): Labour banks on voters ‘doing right thing’

David Farrar (NZH): tax package great PR, bad numbers

TVNZ: Labour's tax plans: The key points

Audio Coverage of CGT

Adam Bennett (NZH) / NZPA: Labour’s tax plan slammed by Govt

Editorial (NZH): Keep the tax plan, lose the envy politics