From the @WgtnCC archives, circa 1959: & #39;Request from a lady visitor to Wgtn. "Does one have to wear a hat in Parliament?"& #39;

*deep breath* OK. Please remember that you asked for this.

THREAD: a brief overview of @nzparliament& #39;s long and slightly obsessive history with hats [1/] https://twitter.com/WCC_Archives/status/1310667408089124864">https://twitter.com/WCC_Archi...
These days our Debating Chamber is mostly hat-free, but in the past the etiquette for when MPs had to doff or don their hats (be & #39;covered& #39; or & #39;uncovered& #39;) was governed by complicated, arcane Westminster traditions inherited from @UKParliament. [2/]
IN CONTRAST, this meant that *keeping your hat on* became an important signal that a debate was *not* taking place at an inappropriate time – notably, if an MP wanted to speak after the doors had been locked for a vote, he had to be seated and hatted. [4/]
In the 1890s Richard Seddon, ‘not having his own hat handy... seized Mr Carroll’s black bowler with the huia feather in it, and Mr Buchanan, finding himself in a similar predicament, had to fit on Mr Duthie’s hat... roars of laughter greeted them in their strange headgear.’ [6/]
This strange state of affairs lasted until the 1960s (unlike @HouseofCommons, where the rule that an MP making a point of order had to wear a top hat was only removed in 1998).
But over the years, some NZ MPs pushed back against the iron grip of Parliamentary Hat Culture™...[8/]
When Elizabeth McCombs was elected as NZ& #39;s first woman MP in 1933, The Press asked if she& #39;d wear a hat in the House – as Lady Astor had done when she took her seat in @HouseofCommons – but McCombs said she never wore one at local body meetings, and wouldn& #39;t in Parliament. [9/]
In the & #39;60s & & #39;70s, @nzparliament& #39;s dress code remained formal despite the changes in society. Younger MPs began to defy the Speaker with longer hair, coloured shirts - and a spectacularly hideous "garish orange towelling hat" from Bob Tizard in 1971 https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/fact-sheets/the-speaker-in-history/">https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-... [10/]
Fast-forward to 2020, and things are a bit more relaxed. MPs can still wear hats if they like - provided they& #39;re free from advertising - and visitors to the Public Gallery should avoid hats (except for religious reasons). https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/visit/public-gallery/">https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-... [11/]
That& #39;s it. That& #39;s the answer. "Does one have to wear a hat in Parliament?" Usually not, but it depends. Hope that helps, 1959 lady visitor to Wgtn. Sorry it took us so long. (And happy 150th birthday @WgtnCC!)

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