From ties to Berocca: Dress code debacle not the only peculiar scene in first week of Parliament

After being tied up in knots for three days over whether male MPs must wear ties, Parliament has flexed - crashing into the modern age. 

The debate was sparked by Maori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi who wanted the freedom to wear taonga in place of a tie - resolved at a late-night meeting at Parliament. 

And while the seniors argued over neckwear, a junior MP debated Berocca.

To tie or not to tie - that was the question of the day. 

"I'm wearing a tie now," said National MP Chris Bishop on Thursday. 

"Northland rugby tie, great tie," Labour MP Stuart Nash said as he proudly pointed out his tie. 

"I think this goes with the shirt but you may disagree," said Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson, sporting his traditional purple tie. 

Labour MP Kieran McAnulty couldn't understand what all the fuss was about. 

"If you want to wear a tie, wear a tie - if you don't want to wear one, don't wear one. I don't know why everyone's getting so wound up!"

MPs have had their ties in a tangle this week after House Speaker Trevor Mallard booted Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi from the debating chamber for wearing a hei tiki instead of a tie.

The business-wear brouhaha was debated at length by MPs in an emergency closed-door meeting on Wednesday night. The parliamentarians kept mum as they filed in, but committed to finding a resolution. 

"I think it's important that we get it resolved," said National MP Michael Woodhouse. 

"I think everyone was in a bit of a bind and hopefully tonight we can sort it out," said McAnulty. 

It divided them - they couldn't find agreement. 

Enter the tie-breaker: "The majority of members at the committee were of a view that ties should be made optional. I'm going to go with that advice," said Mallard. 

Mallard took his new rules to the extreme on Thursday, rocking a rugged t-shirt around Parliament. 

"I've never liked ties," he said. 

Waititi is stoked about the decision. 

"Really elated that we've finally come to a resolution and can get on with the business," he said. 

And he had tieless allies, such as new Labour MP Shanan Halbert. 

"I'm not sure if I feel liberated but I like the idea that with a patterned shirt that I don't have to wear a tie," Halbert said. 

It's not the first sartorial scrap in the Parliament. Former Labour MP Clare Curran was booted out for hyping the Highlanders in the House, and former Greens co-leader Metiria Turei was once unfairly targeted for wearing fancy blazers.

"Well, it was a really ugly jacket," National's Judith Collins said in 2014. 

This, though, was about culture - the right for tangata whenua to express themselves.

"I was disappointed it happened at all," Waititi said of the week's necktie controversy. "I think we've got better things to do and to remember that I never went in there and talked about ties."

Asked if he regrets spending the week talking about ties, Mallard said: "Yes I do."

The dress code debacle wasn't the only bizarre scene in the first sitting week of Parliament this year. Late on Wednesday night new Labour MP Anna Lorck effusively argued the benefits of Berocca in a bizarre scene in the House. 

"Berocca's in the morning! Who's gonna do a Berocca in the morning?" 

And other such supplements: "You need those supplements, don't you?"

It was much to the bemusement of her colleagues.

"And don't forget about the collagen!" Lorck said, almost taking out her drink while she was at it.