New Zealand MP kicked out of parliament for not wearing a tie

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Mr Waititi has previously called ties 'a colonial noose' (Getty Images)

The New Zealand Maori party co-leader Rawiri Waititi was ejected from the New Zealand parliament’s debating chamber, after he refused to wear a tie.  

Exchanges over Mr Waititi’s attire grew more and more heated, with the Speaker finally kicking the Maori party co-leader out of the debating chamber.  

As he left the chamber, Mr Waititi said: “It’s not about ties it’s about cultural identity mate,” local media reported.

Mr Waititi maintained that he had chosen to wear “Maori business attire” to the chamber, while Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard, said that as this was not in line with the dress code, he would not be called on to speak. When Mr Waititi continued to speak in spite of this, he was asked to leave the room. 

The current dress code in the chamber requires all men to wear ties. However, Mr Waititi decided not to wear one and his neck was instead adorned with a pounamu or greenstone necklace. 

This is not the first time that Mr Waititi has been ejected from the New Zealand parliament’s debating chamber due to his refusal to follow the dress code. Last year the Māori party co-leader was asked to leave for the same reason. 

Mr Waititi has previously described ties as “a colonial noose.” In his first speech to parliament, Mr Waititi said in Maori: "Take the noose from around my neck so that I may sing my song," according to The New Zealand Herald. 

Mr Mallard previously asked members of parliament to give their opinion on how they felt MPs should dress in the House and it was decided that the requirement should be kept for male MPs to wear a jacket and tie.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern commented saying that she thought that there were more important issues that needed parliament’s attention, rather than whether or not ties should be worn in the debating chamber. 

The prime minister added: “I don’t think New Zealanders care about ties.”