Male MPs spotted not wearing ties following Speaker's new dress code ruling

House Speaker Trevor Mallard announced ties were no longer mandatory in Parliament on Wednesday.
House Speaker Trevor Mallard announced ties were no longer mandatory in Parliament on Wednesday. Photo credit: Getty

Male MPs from across the House decided to ditch their neckties in Parliament on Thursday, which marked the first day of a new dress code. 

Speaker Trevor Mallard announced ties were no longer mandatory in Parliament on Wednesday.

It comes after Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi clashed with the Speaker on Tuesday, which saw him booted out of Parliament over his refusal to wear a tie.

Labour's Shanan Halbert and Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi.
Labour's Shanan Halbert and Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi. Photo credit: Parliament TV

Green MP Chloe Swarbrick said on Twitter she had spotted five male MPs who showed at Parliament up on Thursday without ties: Labour's Phil Twyford and Shanan Halbert, Green MPs James Shaw and Teanau Tuiono, and ACT's James McDowall. 

Waititi also appeared to be wearing a hei tiki instead of a necktie. 

Mallard discussed the history of dress codes in Parliament in a series of tweets, confirming that the standard of dress codes is determined by the Speaker.

"A meeting of the committee held tonight [Wednesday] discussed this and heard a submission from Te Paati Māori," he said. 

"The committee did not reach a consensus but the majority of the committee was in favour of removing a requirement for ties to be part of 'appropriate business attire' for males.

"As Speaker, I am guided by the committee's discussion and decision, and therefore ties will no longer be considered required as part of 'appropriate business attire for males.

"I acknowledge those who felt this was an important issue worthy of further consideration."