Shane Jones removed from Parliament after heated verbal exchange

Tensions flared in Parliament on Wednesday after Regional Development Minister Shane Jones exchanged heated remarks with Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, prompting Speaker Gerry Brownlee to order Jones out of the debating chamber.

According to a report by Stuff, the clash occurred during a series of pre-arranged questions from an NZ First backbencher when Jones turned his attention toward Ngarewa-Packer while answering questions related to mining and critical minerals.

Jones first mocked the intelligence of Ngarewa-Packer and her iwi, Ngāti Ruanui.

“I accept, Mr Speaker, in some areas the growth in intellect and the growth in intelligence will take a lot longer. And I fear that the longest period of time it will take will be around Ngāti Ruanui in Taranaki,” he said.

He later continued with another remark linked to the topic of critical minerals.

“It could well be that critical minerals are needed for hearing aids. And I rather fear, Mr Speaker, that hearing aids are needed for the member from Western Māori sitting to my right,” he said, as quoted by Stuff.

Brownlee interrupted Jones during the exchange, warning there was “no need to make those comments,” Stuff has quoted.

Despite the warning, Jones continued by asking Ngarewa-Packer to “stop talking like a wounded hen and listen to the matua”.

Brownlee then ended the line of questioning before eventually telling Jones, “haere rā indeed, off you go,” as quoted by Stuff.

Speaking to Stuff outside Parliament, Jones defended his comments and said Ngarewa-Packer had interrupted him repeatedly during his answers.

“Look, I said that critical minerals could be needed for hearing aids for the wounded hen otherwise known as Debbie Packer. She was very rude to me,” he said, as quoted by Stuff.

Jones claimed the interruptions made it difficult for him to respond to questions.

“I couldn’t even get my answer out because of the barrage, cackling, yelling and general incoherence coming from her, Stuff has quoted.

“So, I suggested that she wasn’t able to listen to what I was saying so she needed a hearing aid made out of critical minerals. That’s just part of the theatre of Parliament,” he said, as quoted by Stuff.

Jones later briefly returned to the debating chamber after realising he had left his swipe card behind.