Male MPs will no longer be required to wear a tie while speaking in New Zealand's Parliament after a Māori Party politician was .
Co-leader of the Māori Party Rawiri Waititi said he was wearing the Māori equivalent of a tie - a hei-tiki pendant around his neck - which he described as "Māori business attire" when he was expelled on Tuesday.
“It’s not about ties, it’s about cultural identity mate,” he said as he was ejected from the chamber," he said.
"This is a breach of the rights of Indigenous peoples, we have the freedom to be able to practice our cultural identity in a space like this."
House Speaker Trevor Mallard initially stood by the dress code that required male MPs to wear a tie while asking a question, arguing the "significant majority of members" had made it clear ties were part of business attire during a recent consultation process.
The Māori Party leaders did not participate in the consultation, with Mr Waititi stating he believed his attire would be permitted under cultural exceptions to the rule.
But on Wednesday, Mr Mallard said the majority of the Standing Orders Committee were in favour of removing the "requirement for ties to be part of ‘appropriate business attire’ for males".
“As Speaker, I am guided by the committee’s discussion, and therefore ties will no longer be considered required as part of ‘appropriate business attire’,” he said.
"I acknowledge those who felt this was an important issue worthy of further consideration."
Earlier in the day, Mr Mallard had allowed Mr Waititi to return to the chamber without a tie and ask a question.
