Six male MPs try going without a tie

WELLINGTON: Just six male MPs decided to break with a more than 160year tradition yesterday, opting not to wear a tie in Parliament.

This is despite Speaker Trevor Mallard for the first time giving men the option to go barenecked in the chamber.

One minister revealed to media he did not want to wear a tie, but his mother expected him to, so he would be wearing one every day in the House.

Phil Twyford was the only male minister not wearing a tie yesterday afternoon but he was one of two Labour MPs to break with the tradition, along with newbie Shanan Halbert.

Greens coleader James Shaw and fellow MP Teanau Tuiono were both tieless yesterday, as was new Act New Zealand MP James McDowall.

All National MPs in the House yesterday were wearing a tie.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Maori Party coleader Rawiri Waititi was not wearing a Westernstyle tie either, again wearing hei tiki.

Mr Waititi was kicked out of the House on Tuesday as he was not wearing a Westernstyle tie. But on Wednesday night, after a meeting with the standing orders committee, Mr Mallard decided he would make ties optional in the House.

‘‘The committee did not reach a consensus but the majority of the committee was in favour of removing the requirement for ties to form 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.’’

Justice Minister Kris Faafoi was wearing a tie yesterday and said he would be wearing one for the rest of his parliamentary career. He said he does not like ties, but wearing one is ‘‘what my mum expects of me’’.

‘‘If mum saw me on TV without [a tie] I would be in trouble.’’ — The New Zealand Herald