Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
An MP's job covers both the exciting and the mundane. The laws that are passed without dissent might sound boring, but they can arrive with surprising fanfare, especially when they have a very tangible human impact.
Many bills that are very human are highly contentious when they are debated: homosexual law reform, prostitution reform, the smacking ban, and end of life choice. These bills - now laws - all have one thing in common; they all started as members' bills. But not all are equally contentious.
Members' bills are put forward by any MP who isn't a minister, and since 1992, these have been drawn via a ballot system. More than half of those bills come from opposition MPs, but the odds of them becoming law are very low. MPs need to have luck on their side to have their bill drawn by ballot in the first place, and then comes the task of getting the votes through all stages.
Sometimes though, members' bills do make it through all the hoops. When Green MP Teanau Tuiono's Citizenship (Western Samoa) (Restoration) Amendment Bill was pulled out of the biscuit tin he knew that, as an Opposition MP, history wasn't on his side. But as was recounted during the third reading debate, there was hope.
Months later, on Wednesday evening, he opened the third reading of his bill, to a public gallery packed to the brim with members of the Samoan community.
"I also want to [note] the rarity of this bill receiving unanimous political support across the House in the second reading and, of course, in the committee of the whole House. As we say in politics, it's best not to count your chickens before they're in the umu, but I am confident that there will be enough support, hopefully, unanimous support, for this bill to get through its third reading."
Unanimous support there was. The Bill received 123 votes in favour. Immediately, those in the public galleries erupted into applause, laughter and pese (singing). Members from both sides of the aisle embraced as the harmonies resonated around the chamber.
It was a reminder that as well as political hostility, Parliament also provides feel-good moments.
Lafaele Vaeluaga heads to Parliament for the third reading. Photo: VNP/Louis Collins
Lafaele Vaeluaga had made a submission to the select committee, and was back again on Wednesday to watch the Bill sail through its final stage.
"It means we belong to this land… Yesterday was the big hīkoi from tangata whenua and [tangata tiriti]. And so they call tangata tiriti and tangata whenua 'our partnership'. So this is [also] kind of a partnership. So, we are Samoa here today. …Tangata whenua was yesterday; today is tangata moana."
Seiuli Peseta is the secretary of Mau a Samoa Sitiseni Niu Zila, a group led by former MPs Anae Arthur Anae and Aupito William Sio. While Peseta acknowledges the Bill addresses past injustices, he believes it could have gone further. While the Bill allows those whose citizenship was stripped away to regain it, that renewed citizenship does not automatically pass to their children - as it would have if the injustice had not occurred.
"When you're thinking of people that will be entitled to this," says Seiuli Peseta. "The oldest person is probably 100 years old, and the youngest was probably 76 or 75. It's a shame that their descendants are not entitled to it."
Members of New Zealand's Samoan Community, including those now eligible for citizenship came to Parliament to watch the bill pass its third reading. Photo: VNP/Louis Collins
Despite the fix applying only to the elderly, Parliament's public galleries held both infants and elderly great-grandmothers. Much of the advocacy and activism supporting the Bill's legislative journey was led by young Samoans, including the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those who had their citizenship removed back in 1982.
"Young Samoans are well educated," says Seiuli Peseta "and they're well aware of human rights, and fighting for human rights and freedom, and ensuring that this has been restored, and rectifying, you know, righting the wrongs of the past. At the same time, we're rectifying something that was done, an injustice done to our people."
At the conclusion of the debate, one member of the Samoan community in the gallery suggested that "now we know [we are] people of this land, we are sharing the same DNA."
RNZ's The House, with insights into Parliament, legislation and issues, is made with funding from Parliament's Office of the Clerk.
