December 14, 2023
Ferris challenges parliamentary authority
The new Māori Party MP for Te Tai Tonga has used his maiden speech to throw down a wero to the institution of parliament,
Tākuta Ferris dedicated his speech to He Whakapūtanga, the 1935 declaration of independence, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
He said he was a Māori on a mission.
“I’m not here to service the needs of this House, I’m not here to contest it, and the manner in which it exercises authority over things it has no authority over. Te Pāti Māori does not presume to speak for all Māori but we do speak from a purely Māori perspective for and on behalf of a purely Māori constituency. I have to ask the House, is that not pure democracy,” Mr Ferris says.
He says it was ironic Te Pāti Māori is accused of being radical racists promoting apartheid.