ℕ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕄ℙ 𝕥𝕠 𝕒𝕟𝕤𝕨𝕖𝕣 𝕢𝕦𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕠𝕟 '𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘' 𝕓𝕖𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕣

ℕ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕄ℙ 𝕋𝕚𝕞 𝕧𝕒𝕟 𝕕𝕖 𝕄𝕠𝕝𝕖𝕟 𝕙𝕒𝕤 𝕓𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕣𝕖𝕗𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 ℙ𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥'𝕤 ℙ𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕘𝕖𝕤 ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕖 𝕒𝕗𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕒 𝕝𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕗 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕥 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕞𝕒𝕕𝕖 𝕒𝕘𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕥 𝕙𝕚𝕞 𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 "𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘" 𝕓𝕖𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕥𝕠𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕤 𝕒 𝕃𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕄ℙ.

 

In the House at the beginning of today's session, Speaker Adrian Rurawhe said he had received a letter from Boyack raising a matter of privilege regarding the Waikato MP's conduct towards Halbert on June 29.
I

t is understood Tim van de Molen "stood over" Labour MP Shanan Halbert which led other MPs to place themselves around Halbert out of concern for his safety.

Van de Molen said the facts were "contested".

Halbert was the chairman of Parliament's Transport and Infrastructure Committee on June 29 when it's claimed van de Molen took issue with the number of questions afforded to National during the committee.

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In a letter of complaint to the Speaker, Labour MP Rachel Boyack claimed van de Molen was "physically intimidating" and displayed "threatening behaviour".

The matter will now be considered by Parliament's Privileges Committee.

National MP to answer questions on 'threatening' behaviourhttps://t.co/pbi6jDuwYA pic.twitter.com/D3Mt34SA6e

— 1News (@1NewsNZ) August 1, 2023

In the House at the beginning of today's session, Speaker Adrian Rurawhe said he had received a letter from Boyack raising a matter of privilege regarding the Waikato MP's conduct towards Halbert on June 29.

"There are differing accounts of what occurred at the conclusion of the committee's meeting," Rurawhe said.

"If the allegations are accurate the conduct complained of could amount to threatening or intimidating a member acting in the discharge of their duty, or threatening a member on account of their conduct in Parliament."

He said the Speaker's role was to determine whether the facts alleged could, if true, amount to a breach of privilege or contempt of the House, and it was the role of the Privileges Committee to inquire into the veracity of allegations.

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"I find that a question of privilege arises and that question stands referred to the Privileges Committee."

Van de Molen said he could not comment as the matter was before the committee, but said the "facts are contested".

It follows the referral of Labour MPs Jan Tinetti and Michael Wood to the Privileges Committee this year.

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