Ele Ludemann: Lying about lying

If three’s anything worse than lying, it’s lying about lying:

TĀKUTA FERRIS: —

. . . A knowledge gap is a dangerous thing. It allows lies to be presented as truths. Politicians call this obfuscation—the art of making something unclear, intentionally vague, ambiguous, to conceal or obscure the truth, to confuse others. Lies, in other words. Many in this House are masters of it, and it is a disservice to those who voted you into your positions. Unless, of course—

Rt Hon Winston Peters: Point of order, Mr Speaker. It is simply not acceptable for someone, inexperienced as he is, to nevertheless accuse other MPs— . . .

Takuta Ferris: Maiden Speech

After six years of a Labour Government Parliamentary democracy in New Zealand is in a fragile state. With new MPs likely to have a significant influence over our democratic future, Breaking Views is featuring a selection of maiden speeches, which reveal deeply contrasting views... Here is Maiden Speech of the Maori Party's Takuta Ferris:

[To the House, to all of the leaders, to the descendants of Te Tai Tonga, all of us, the Māori people who have assembled here, greetings to all of us. Mr Speaker, Gerry, greetings.]

1835, 28 October, Māori declared their independence and sovereignty to the world and the world acknowledged it. He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tirene, the Declaration of Independence of New Zealand, enacted by the authority of Te Whakaminenga o ngā Rangatira o ngā Hapū o Nu Tireni, the Chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand. The declaration was made and the country of New Zealand came into being.