2. Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Labour—Manurewa) to the Chairperson of the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee: Did the committee hear submissions on the Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill relating to Māori representation?

Hon JOHN CARTER (Chairperson of the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee) : Yes.

Hon George Hawkins: Is the Māori Party represented on the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee; if so, were Māori Party members present when those and other submissions were made?

Mr SPEAKER: The composition of select committees is a matter commonly known to the House. If the member is referring to whether a member attended a committee, that is not in order. I will allow the member to repeat his question to make sure that I heard it correctly.

Hon George Hawkins: Is the Māori Party represented on the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee; if so, did they attend any of the submissions?

Mr SPEAKER: Order!

Hon George Hawkins: The answers are—

Mr SPEAKER: No, the Speaker is on his feet. We cannot allow a question like that.