Maori MP ejected from New Zealand parliament for refusing to wear tie

A leader of the Maori Party has been ejected from the New Zealand parliament for not wearing a tie.

Male MPs can only ask questions in the debating chamber if wearing a tie. Speaker Trevor Mallard twice prevented Rawiri Waititi from asking questions, reports the BBC.

"It's not about ties, it's about cultural identity mate," Waititi said while exiting the chamber, local media reported.

He has called ties "a colonial noose" and wore a greenstone pendant instead.

After being stopped for a second time, Waititi continued with his question until Mr Mallard ordered him to leave the chamber.

Mr Waititi called Mr Mallard's treatment of him "unconscionable", adding that he was wearing "Maori business attire".

Co-leader of the Maori Party, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, who was herself wearing a tie, pleaded her colleague's case but to no avail.