Stuff reports –
The bill to register English as an official language of New Zealand passed its first reading on Tuesday, and there was silence from the Opposition benches when it came to the vote.
It was initially assumed Labour and the rest of the Opposition parties were against the bill, and had just forgotten to vote in opposition – but Labour, on Wednesday, confirmed to Stuff that it supports the legislation.
The tone struck by writer Jenna Lynch suggests she was surprised.
She mentions “heated debate” over the Government bill, which would recognise English as an official language alongside NZ Sign Language and Te Reo Māori.
She also notes that the bill was agreed to as part of National’s coalition deal with New Zealand First, but says National ministers have distanced themselves from it.
The bill is before Parliament in the name of Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, but he did not show up to speak in the debate.
He is quoted as saying:
“Well, we don’t.”
That calls for elaboration: we don’t what?
Goldsmith goes on:
“Look, it’s just – it’s a coalition agreement with New Zealand First. It’s something that they’re particularly enthusiastic about and we just – we have a lot of things we want to get through the House. [Winston]’s done that, and so we’re moving on.”
Stuff did ask Goldsmith why this bill had been prioritised – while the bill allowing a referendum on a four year term of Parliament was shelved, due to a focus on only the highest priorities of Law and Order.
He said:
“Well, because it’s a coalition commitment, and we have coalition commitments that we have to do.”
So that’s the explanation.
Now let’s look at the nature of the “heated debate”.
PoO reported yesterday that senior Labour MP Kieran McAnulty on Tuesday had taken the second-to-last speech on the bill.
As Lynch says, he condemned the prime minister for allowing it to go through.
“If ever we wanted a bill or an example that could demonstrate the weakness of the prime minister, this is it. The English Language bill, a waste of time, a waste of resources,” he said.
“A clear example that the whole time that Christopher Luxon went around the country during the election campaign and told everyone he was a master negotiator, all he has proved himself to be is a massive blowhard.”
But McAnulty said nothing to suggest the Bill should be scuttled because it would do some sort of harm to our society.
Nor did other Opposition MPs – at least, not those who spoke in English. The Hansard draft transcript does not include the contributions of te reo speakers
When a vote was called at the end of the first-reading debate, no Opposition member called for a party vote, although Green MP Mike Davidson registered a vocal no vote when the Speaker called for it.
Lynch reports:
Labour’s acting arts, culture and heritage spokesperson, Willow-Jean Prime on Wednesday told Stuff the party had decided to support the bill.
“As Kiwis deal with increasing costs and worsening unemployment, the Government is choosing to focus instead on virtue-signalling to New Zealand First. We reluctantly support this bill so we can all just move on from this needless culture war.”
PoO was not surprised.
Labour did not muster arguments in favour of scuttling the Bill, which has been referred to a select committee. Their concerns, rather, were that the Bill is not necessary, that the government should be pouring its energies into other more pressing matters and that the PM was out-manoeuvred by Peters on this issue.
Bob Edlin is a veteran journalist and editor for the Point of Order blog HERE. - where this article was sourced.
She mentions “heated debate” over the Government bill, which would recognise English as an official language alongside NZ Sign Language and Te Reo Māori.
She also notes that the bill was agreed to as part of National’s coalition deal with New Zealand First, but says National ministers have distanced themselves from it.
The bill is before Parliament in the name of Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, but he did not show up to speak in the debate.
He is quoted as saying:
“Well, we don’t.”
That calls for elaboration: we don’t what?
Goldsmith goes on:
“Look, it’s just – it’s a coalition agreement with New Zealand First. It’s something that they’re particularly enthusiastic about and we just – we have a lot of things we want to get through the House. [Winston]’s done that, and so we’re moving on.”
Stuff did ask Goldsmith why this bill had been prioritised – while the bill allowing a referendum on a four year term of Parliament was shelved, due to a focus on only the highest priorities of Law and Order.
He said:
“Well, because it’s a coalition commitment, and we have coalition commitments that we have to do.”
So that’s the explanation.
Now let’s look at the nature of the “heated debate”.
PoO reported yesterday that senior Labour MP Kieran McAnulty on Tuesday had taken the second-to-last speech on the bill.
As Lynch says, he condemned the prime minister for allowing it to go through.
“If ever we wanted a bill or an example that could demonstrate the weakness of the prime minister, this is it. The English Language bill, a waste of time, a waste of resources,” he said.
“A clear example that the whole time that Christopher Luxon went around the country during the election campaign and told everyone he was a master negotiator, all he has proved himself to be is a massive blowhard.”
But McAnulty said nothing to suggest the Bill should be scuttled because it would do some sort of harm to our society.
Nor did other Opposition MPs – at least, not those who spoke in English. The Hansard draft transcript does not include the contributions of te reo speakers
When a vote was called at the end of the first-reading debate, no Opposition member called for a party vote, although Green MP Mike Davidson registered a vocal no vote when the Speaker called for it.
Lynch reports:
Labour’s acting arts, culture and heritage spokesperson, Willow-Jean Prime on Wednesday told Stuff the party had decided to support the bill.
“As Kiwis deal with increasing costs and worsening unemployment, the Government is choosing to focus instead on virtue-signalling to New Zealand First. We reluctantly support this bill so we can all just move on from this needless culture war.”
PoO was not surprised.
Labour did not muster arguments in favour of scuttling the Bill, which has been referred to a select committee. Their concerns, rather, were that the Bill is not necessary, that the government should be pouring its energies into other more pressing matters and that the PM was out-manoeuvred by Peters on this issue.
Bob Edlin is a veteran journalist and editor for the Point of Order blog HERE. - where this article was sourced.
3 comments:
This is a good example why National are sinking in the polls. NZ First put the bill in the Coalition agreement, not because it achieves anything, but to get votes. Labour realise they're on a loser if they oppose it so they don't. But it's National that shows reluctance. That means, firstly they are against something that is popular and common sense, but secondly, they don't have the integrity to vote according to their principles.
If Willow-Jean Prime Prime is "acting" she must be an absolute certainty for a Razzie prize.
Far from being unnecessary, the bill is needed to correct a stupid error made with the original recognition of the other two lingos. All three should have been in the original bill and that would have prevented a lot of wasted hot air, time and aggravation ever since.
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