Gerry Brownlee, a member of the National Party, has been elected as the Speaker of the House in New Zealand. The Speaker is the highest officer elected by the House of Representatives, making it the third most important role in the country after the governor-general and the prime minister.
Brownlee replaces Adrian Rurawhe from the Labour Party. In New Zealand, the speaker is usually a member of the main governing party and needs majority support from Parliament to be elected. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon confirmed that Brownlee would be chosen by the three governing parties.
Brownlee said he views the role of the Speaker as a protector of MPs’ rights, allowing them to speak freely and carry out their duties across the country without interference. He acknowledged the previous speakers he had worked with and paid special tribute to Rurawhe.
Brownlee also shared his approach to the job, stating that the standing orders are just a guide for how the house works and not absolute. He advised new MPs to learn from the environment and not get too caught up in the rules. He thanked the House for their confidence in him and expressed a desire for better relationships than he had with some previous speakers.
After his election, leaders from all parties congratulated him. Christopher Luxon thanked him for his service, Chris Hipkins praised his experience, and Ricardo Menéndez March acknowledged his commitment to family inclusion, staff protection, and accessibility. David Seymour urged him to uphold the Standing Orders, Winston Peters expressed confidence in his ability to be fair, and Rawiri Waititi looked forward to working with him.
Brownlee thanked the members and said his door would always be open to all members of Parliament. He was then officially sworn into the role by the governor-general.
