Brown Peter: Oaths Modernisation Bill — First Reading 
Brown Peter: Oaths Modernisation Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:625;Page:20651] 
PETER BROWN (Deputy Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 Let me make it quite clear: New Zealand First will support the Oaths Modernisation Bill going to the select committee. 
Hon Members 
: Oh no! 
PETER BROWN 
: Yes. When we first saw this bill we thought that if the Government were mucking around with the oaths then the Queen would have no chance of surviving and God help God. But they both survived. In many ways—and I have to agree with the honourable member—the Queen’s position in terms of her role has been strengthened if I have read this correctly. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: Absolutely. She’s enshrined in her present position. 
PETER BROWN 
: We are grateful for that because New Zealand First is a keen supporter of the monarchy and we certainly believe in God. We think that by even introducing a bill like this that position is strengthened for some time to come. The next thing will be to keep our flag and we are working on that too. 
I have read all the current oaths and the proposed oaths—in the English version; I have not managed the Maori version as yet—and to a very large extent I personally believe that this bill has simplified the oaths and made them clearer. I cannot readily find fault with any of the proposed oaths so speaking personally I cannot find anything particularly wrong with the Oaths Modernisation Bill. That is not to say that my colleagues totally agree with me but by and large we are supportive of this bill going to a select committee. 
When I am looking at the citizenship oath I am reminded of the time I sat in a little TV studio a few years back with the honourable Lianne Dalziel the Minister of Immigration as she was at that time. We were debating the issues of immigrants and people who come to this country and get citizenship. I being a blown-away Englishman outlined my concern about this country going down the same road that the English have gone down—that is of providing legal access for people to go around wearing burkas and hiding their faces. That situation is occurring in the UK to some degree of concern. But the Minister as she was at that time assured me and she assured the people who were watching that TV station that that was not occurring. I ask the member whether she remembers. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: Some people’s appearances might be improved by wearing a burka. 
PETER BROWN 
: And I might be one of them. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: No—I’m one of them. 
PETER BROWN 
: Oh the member is one of them! The point I am making is that that practice is creeping into this country. Yet I recall that Stephen Franks tabled a letter in this House a few months ago from the Land Transport Safety Authority as it was at that time stating that not many people have had their photograph taken for their photographic licence while wearing a burka. 
I think the citizenship oath as it is now written strengthens New Zealand First’s case. The second part of the oath—stating allegiance to the Queen comes first—states: “I will faithfully observe the laws of New Zealand and fulfil my duties as a New Zealand citizen. So help me God.” That will be replaced with the words: “I will be loyal to New Zealand will obey the law and will respect the democratic values of New Zealand and the rights and freedoms of its people. So help me God.” 
The law in this country states that if a person is going for a photographic licence that person does not cover his or her face. The law in this country is based on my having the right to see someone without anything covering his or her face and that citizenship oath strengthens that. I can see that the honourable Lianne Dalziel feels a little bit uncomfortable but it has strengthened the case— 
Lianne Dalziel 
: I haven’t heard you argue against the oppression of women for a long time. It’s great! 
PETER BROWN 
: If it comes to women being forced to wear burkas and covering their faces at the demands of men I will join that member any day of the week in arguing against that and against various other things that some men in some countries compel women to do. My wife will tell members that I am a very fair-minded person when it comes to women. She says “Jump!” and rather than say “How high?” I say “Will you tell me when to come down?”. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: Keep it clean! 
PETER BROWN 
: I do not want to give members any ideas because they might bump into my wife one day and give her a few clues on how I might react. I do not want that to occur. 
Darren Hughes 
: The microphone is live— 
PETER BROWN 
:—and she might be the only listener! 
We do not see the harm in this bill that the National Party does. I regret that that party sees it as harm. I do not share that view at all. We think that the bill might need a bit of tidying up but it is a move in the right direction. 
We also ask why the bill is being brought in now only so many weeks before an election but I suppose there are reasons. If there are any concerns though New Zealand First will be back much stronger than currently and we will tidy them up then. 
In closing I want to correct the honourable member about the Hippocratic oath. It is now totally voluntary in this country. Some universities I believe do not have the Hippocratic oath but it has been modernised immensely from what it once was so it is not a good example— 
Hon Phil Goff 
: No the member was wrong on everything he said. 
PETER BROWN 
: The member was wrong in everything I have to say. 
New Zealand First will support this bill going to the select committee.