MPs from both sides pay tribute to Prince Philip

WELLINGTON: Members of Parliament from both sides of the House yesterday afternoon paid tribute to Prince Philip, who died on Friday.

‘‘He was also a beloved husband, father, grandfather and greatgrandfather,’’ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told MPs.

‘‘Prince Philip added to the world,’’ National leader Judith Collins said.

Act New Zealand leader David Seymour struck a slightly different tone, referring to Prince Philip as ‘‘a little bit of a scallywag’’.

But the comment was made in jest, in the context of his ‘‘legendary wit’’.

‘‘But there’s another side to him that I think many people enjoyed, that His Royal Highness — I think it’s OK to say — was a little bit of a scallywag from time to time, and many people have struggled to reconcile these two sides of the Duke of Edinburgh,’’ Mr Seymour said.

And it was his wit that was the focus of many speeches.

Ms Ardern said ‘‘Prince Philip will be long remembered for his downtoearth style and formidable sense of humour.

‘‘Sometimes his directness created controversy, but he never shied away from his sense of duty.’’

Green Party coleader James Shaw spoke only briefly during the special sitting, in which he extended his condolences to the Queen.

‘‘I’d like to echo the words of his grandson, Prince William, who said: ‘I know he would want us to get on with the job’,’’ he said.

The party’s other coleader, Marama Davidson — who has been a critic of the role of the British monarchy in colonisation — was not in the House yesterday afternoon.

A spokesman said that was because Ms Davidson had a ‘‘personal matter’’ to attend to.

Also absent from the special sitting were Maori Party coleaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie NgarewaPacker.

The pair have also been critical of the role of the Royal Family, in regards to the colonisation of New Zealand. But Ms NgarewaPacker told the Herald she was not in the House because she was at a tangi and, because of the poor cellphone coverage in the area, did not get the notice of the special sitting until late on Monday night.

Parliament adjourned for the day after the speeches finished — usually the House sits until 10pm on a Tuesday.

The state memorial service for Prince Philip will be held at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul at 3pm on April 21, and attended by the prime minister and GovernorGeneral Dame Patsy Reddy.

The flags on public buildings will be at halfmast on that day, as well as on Saturday, the day of the funeral in the UK.