‘Oh my God!’ Object nearly hits David Seymour before Treaty Principles Bill reading

Thursday, 10 April 2025

An object, believed to be a vape, nearly hit ACT leader David Seymour ahead of the second reading of the controversial Treaty Principles Bill.

The Greens have confirmed it was a staffer, and was an accident.

“This was a genuine mistake, and the staff member involved is very apologetic. Staff have since been advised to stand back from the railing.”

Seymour, while speaking to reporters ahead of Parliament, did not flinch but stated “oopsie daisy” after the item hit the ground.

A voice is heard in video of the Seymour’s press conference saying: “Oh my God”.

Another voice says: “Stay away from the banisters please if you’re going to throw stuff down.”

Stuff has approached Parliamentary Services for comment as it is not clear how it happened.

Stuff understands parliamentary security was looking into it. ACT confirmed they will not be taking any action at this point.

The bill, which has become one of the most debated pieces of proposed legislation ever, will have its second reading on Thursday afternoon.

It received around 300,000 written submissions, while Parliament’s Justice Committee heard 80 hours of in-person or on-camera submissions. The vast majority, 90% of the submissions, opposed the bill.

The Treaty Principles Bill arrived at Parliament with fiery haka, flared tempers and a historic hīkoi in November. At that vote, all three coalition parties voted to support the bill.

Act published video on social media afterwards suggesting it was a Green Party staffer who dropped a vape. The Greens confirmed this to Stuff, saying it was accidental.

For its second vote on Thursday afternoon, the National Party and NZ First were set to join the Opposition and kill the bill.