'Too many cows' - Security called as protesters disrupt Parliament

August 31, 2023

Whistles and cries of "too many cows" came from the public gallery before the Speaker called for security.

Greenpeace protesters were escorted out of Parliament's public gallery this afternoon after heckling as a Greens MP spoke during the final Question Time before the election.

Three protesters draped large pink banners from the public gallery which read Too Many Cows. Climate Election Now.

They also issued three short blasts on a whistle and shouted the same "too many cows" slogan.

It came as Greens co-leader Marama Davidson was asking a supplementary question to the Minister of Climate Change James Shaw.

"Why are emissions falling?" she asked before the commotion kicked off.

Speaker Adrian Rurawhe called for Parliamentary security to remove the protesters from the public gallery.

"You need to leave the gallery right now," he said, also asking that the banners be removed as well.

Hipkins gleefully waved goodbye to National's Michael Woodhouse, while Luxon jokingly thanked the PM for his services to the National Party.

Later on, ACT leader David Seymour raised a point of order that a photo was posted to Greenpeace's Instagram account that "appeared to be taken from a member's seat".

"To take that picture and share it would assist in the protest and therefore impede the house and its duties by encouraging people to enter as strangers and create disorder, that would prima facie make it a contempt."

He asked that the Speaker seek reassurance from present MPs that they did not share the picture with Greenpeace and that he investigate who did.

Rurawhe said that "there is a clear process for dealing with such matters if that is correct" and that he would "deal with it at the appropriate time".

Greenpeace spokesperson Christine Rose said that the protest was a "timely reminder" before they hit the campaign trail.

"We’re calling on all politicians to take urgent action to cut climate pollution from big dairy.

"For too long, the industry has been denying and delaying action on agricultural emissions. And now, we are seeing the impacts of the climate crisis every day. This cannot continue."

Rose also said all political parties need a credible plan to tackle "big dairy’s" climate pollution, calling for the phasing out of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, and a transition away from "intensive dairying towards more plant-based, regenerative, organic agriculture".

This comes as the 53rd Parliament adjourns today and politicians begin campaigning ahead of the October 14 election.

It also comes after a heckler derailed Christopher Luxon's media stand-up in Auckland's Pakuranga earlier this week as he challenged National's leader on a number of issues.

Freedoms NZ supporter Karl Mokaraka forced Luxon to move the stand-up inside.

Luxon was being asked about his refusal to rule out working with NZ First when Visions NZ candidate Karl Mokaraka popped up over the fence behind him and Simeon Brown.

"We haven't seen you in Ōtara Mr Luxon," Mokaraka said.

"Hey buddy why can't we just be respectful of everyone," Luxon replied while looking back at the man.

"I think you are a candidate for Vision right?" Luxon inquired as Mokaraka had a Vision NZ pin on his jacket.

"We are part of Freedoms New Zealand and we would like you to turn up to our communities," Mokaraka replied.

It's not the first time Mokaraka has stolen the limelight from a political leader, he also heckled Labour leader Chris Hipkins during an Ōtara walkabout recently.

Hipkins moved through the market, greeting Labour supporters and stall holders and largely ignoring the protesters who attempted to derail his visit by chanting "no more Labour pains!"

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