1 Mar 2012

Peters ejected from chamber

7:54 pm on 1 March 2012

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters was ejected from Parliament's debating chamber Thursday afternoon, after describing Gerry Brownlee as an illiterate woodwork teacher.

The comment came after Mr Brownlee questioned how the Speaker could understand what he described as the vagaries of Mr Peters' questions.

Mr Peters took a point of order in response, saying the insult required an apology, particularly from some illiterate woodwork teacher.

Before entering Parliament, Mr Brownlee was a high school teacher.

The Speaker Lockwood Smith sent Mr Peters from the House, telling him he could not use points of order to abuse other members.