Te Ao Māori

Fox to continue pressure over oath

06:15 am on 21 October 2014

Maori Party MP Marama Fox says she will continue to put pressure on the Government to include the Treaty of Waitangi when taking an oath.

MPs were sworn in at Parliament yesterday. They must swear allegiance to the Queen and have the option of swearing allegiance to God or making a non-religious affirmation.

Ms Fox said she gave careful consideration as to whether she would pledge allegiance to Te Tiriti o Waitangi instead, but decided against.

However, she said the Maori Party would continue to put pressure on the Government to include the Treaty in the oath.

Ms Fox said Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand and the whole reason the Queen is able to be here is because of the signing of the Treaty.

The MP said she would submit the Oaths and Declarations Amendment Bill in the members' ballot when she gets the chance.