Wed Sep 25 02:36:46 UTC 2024: ## MP Accused of Lying to Parliament, Faces Privileges Committee Inquiry
**Wellington, New Zealand** – A heated political controversy has erupted in New Zealand Parliament, with Te Pāti Māori MP Tākuta Ferris facing a potential reprimand from the Privileges Committee for allegedly misleading the House.
The issue stems from a comment Ferris made during a general debate last week, where he suggested some MPs were “masters of lying” by using ambiguous language to obscure the truth. NZ First MP Winston Peters, who was present, accused Ferris of calling him and his party leader Shane Jones “liars.”
Ferris denied making the statement, but Speaker Gerry Brownlee, after reviewing the incident, referred the matter to the Privileges Committee, which acts as Parliament’s court. Brownlee stated that Ferris’s denial could constitute deliberate misleading of the House, a serious offense.
Jones expressed outrage at Ferris’s actions, labeling them an “unforgiveable sin” and criticizing Ferris’s lack of an apology. He further suggested that Ferris’s behavior was “arrogant” and a “disservice” to those who elected him.
Ferris has not offered a full response to the allegations, stating only that he would address the matter once he understood the complaint. However, he has not retracted his previous denial.
The Privileges Committee will now investigate the matter and potentially issue a ruling on whether Ferris misled the House. This incident follows a trend of increasing scrutiny by the committee, which recently reviewed a number of other controversies, including allegations of inappropriate behavior by other MPs.
First Piper 