Speaker Lockwood Smith will be expecting better behaviour from MPs on Wednesday after the fiasco that ended up with NZ First leader Winston Peters being ordered out the debating chamber.
Within minutes of MPs on Tuesday paying sombre tributes to the three soldiers killed in Afghanistan, Mr Peters was involved in an angry question time confrontation with Dr Smith.
Mr Peters tried to dispute a reply from Prime Minister John Keyabout comments made last week by Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson and wouldn't keep quiet when Dr Smith told him to sit down.
"I am not going to tolerate this any longer," Dr Smith said.
"Goodness, this is parliament. We have just had a serious debate about New Zealanders losing their lives overseas and we carry on like spoilt brats."
Mr Peters shouted "this is about freedom" and was ordered to leave.
Dr Smith told MPs that in the last few days he had "continued to receive communications from members of the public who are concerned about the behaviour in their House - we need to pick up our standards a little".
Within an hour Mr Peters had called a press conference to announce he had laid a breach of privilege complaint against Mr Williamson, claiming the minister misled parliament when he replied to questions about farm purchases.
And he was furious about a media website report which said the tributes had been marred by the question time ructions.
"It's a disgraceful piece of journalism... to suggest what happened in question time reflects on their memory is totally irresponsible."
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