A Tongan New Zealand member of parliament is vowing to fight on to have MPs oaths of allegiance to the crown recognised in their mother tongues.
Labour's Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki introduced a member's bill seeking to allow members to choose the language which best suits them when being sworn in.
According to her, this reflects the increased diversity of modern New Zealand.
She says that for Pacific people swearing the oath in their mother tongue would allow a better understanding of the gravity of the act.
The bill was defeated 65 votes to 54 in its first reading last week but Ms Kanongata'a-Suisuiki vows to fight on.
Ms Kanongata'a-Suisuiki told Dominic Godfrey the bill had been in the ballot since 2008 when the now Minister of Pacific People's Aupito William Sio first put it forward.
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Photo: VNP / Phil Smith