National says NZ First party rule turns MPs into 'bonded slaves'

August 16, 2018

National is making a complaint to a high-level parliamentary committee, saying NZ First is being undemocratic.

The National Party says a legal clause in New Zealand First's party rules turns its MPs into bonded slaves.

The NZ First constitution states any MP who leaves the party will face a fee of $300,000 if they don't quit Parliament within three days.

National is making a complaint to a high-level parliamentary committee, saying the rule is undemocratic.

"It's obscene and it shouldn't be allowed. It effectively turns New Zealand First MPs into bonded slaves," National MP Nick Smith said today.

NZ First leader Winston Peters gave his own take on what he thought was undemocratic in Parliament.

"What's undemocratic is someone coming in under one flag and deciding to flip and change the whole construct of Parliament all by themselves," Mr Peters said.

However, the new waka jumping legislation is set to make the NZ First rule redundant.

The legislation is set to pass in the next few weeks and will mean MPs aren't able to quit a party and stay on as an independent MP.

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