11 Feb 2021

Trevor Mallard on tie rule reversal

From Morning Report, 7:29 am on 11 February 2021

Parliament is cutting its colonial ties. It will now be optional for men to wear ties in the House following a decision from Speaker Trevor Mallard last night.

The Standing Orders Committee met to discuss the dress code after Maori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi was booted out of the debating chamber for refusing to wear a tie.

Last year the Speaker reconsidered the requirement to wear a tie, saying he believed it to be out-dated, but ruled last week that ties would remain as that was the will of the majority of MPs.

Political reporter Katie Scotcher asked the Speaker Trevor Mallard what had changed between last week and now.