Prime Minister John Key says there is no need for the Parliamentary oath to be changed, as Mana Party leader Hone Harawira gears up for his second attempt to be sworn in this afternoon.
Mr Harawira, who reclaimed a place in Parliament after winning the Te Tai Tokerau by-election, is due to be sworn in this afternoon after an aborted first attempt two weeks ago.
Speaker Lockwood Smith evicted Mr Harawira from Parliament's debating chamber when he attempted to pledge allegiance to the Treaty of Waitangi, rather than to the Queen as the legal oath required.
Mr Harawira is pushing to change the oath, and several other parties think it's time to look at it.
Mr Key accused the party leader of seeking media attention.
"Hone Harawira's obviously using it to make a political statement and play games. I actually think he's wasting Parliament's time.
"He's been elected by the people of Te Tai Tokerau, he's got a responsibility to come and represent them in Parliament and he should just get on with it and be sworn in and stop the games."
He did not support calls for change.
"I am not of the view that it's necessary."
He said Parliament had bigger issues to deal with and it was appropriate to swear allegiance to the Queen as New Zealand was part of the Commonwealth.
Mr Harawira yesterday told NZPA he would give the official oath today.
"I'm just going to complete the exercise, take my seat and get on with the business of causing havoc."
Mr Harawira said he would be having discussions this week to see how the oath could be changed to include the treaty.
"I genuinely believe most MPs would like to swear allegiance to the people who put them into Parliament," he said.
"I spoke to a woman who used to work in the bills drafting office, and we're going to have a sit down later this week to see what we can do."
Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia previously said the party was reviewing legislative amendments it earlier proposed to include allegiance to the treaty in the oath, and said she had written to Dr Smith seeking advice on how to move the proposal forward.
Labour leader Phil Goff, when justice minister, proposed an oath swearing allegiance to the people of New Zealand and the Head of State.
"That would be my preferred alternative, I think we should look at that one again."
He had been disappointed that National dropped the proposal.
"Why wouldn't you swear loyalty to the people of the country, the people that you represent?
"I think it's a no-brainer. I don't know why they took that out."
