Dread in the House

Nandor Tanczos in his new hemp and wool suit. HERALD PICTURE / PAUL ESCOURT

When Green MP Nandor Tanczos walks up the steps of Parliament to be officially sworn in, he will be clad in a new hemp suit.

He expects some people to be surprised by his stylish appearance. "People expect it to be like sackcloth."

But the dark blue fabric was soft, textured and a tailor's delight, he said.

Posing in Ponsonby's Western Park yesterday in the hemp-and- wool-blend creation, his metre-long dreadlocks arranged turban-like, Mr Tanczos appeared the perfect poster-child for the creation of a New Zealand hemp industry.

Hemp is a woody variety of the cannabis plant. While it is legal to import finished hemp products, importing the seed is illegal.

The Green Party wants trials of hemp crops in New Zealand, following the trend in more than 30 countries.

As co-founder and owner of the Hemp Store, Mr Tanczos also saw the sales potential for the suits in Parliament.

"I'd happily take orders."

He said his suit was comfortable and breathed well.

"Most other items made from hemp would be jeans and casual urban wear.

"We've always wanted to make hemp suits, but the industry is so small that it's a matter of building it up line by line."

The hemp in his suit was grown in China, and the suit was made by Payne Tailors in Karangahape Rd.

Hemp promoters say there is no risk of hemp being used as a drug.

Nandor Tanczos has taken the moral high ground with his vow to keep smoking cannabis once a week. But a clutch of top criminal lawyers said yesterday that the Green MP would fall to Earth with a thud if busted by police.

Auckland lawyer John Kovacevic, who has given advice to Mr Tanczos on the issue, said the religion defence would fail in court. The Bill of Rights and the Human Rights Act endorsed freedom of religion, but those pieces of legislation were weaker than criminal law.

Any user of cannabis who pleaded not guilty on the basis of religion risked a bigger penalty for failing to admit guilt. However, a judge could also impose a softer sentence if swayed by the reason for smoking.

Auckland Crown Solicitor Simon Moore agreed, and mentioned that he had met Mr Tanczos and considered him a top bloke.

"Religion wouldn't work, but Nandor's personal charm might."

Mr Tanczos would not comment on cannabis or his religion yesterday because he felt he had already said enough in recent days.

As Rastafarian Mr Tanczos declared his intention to continue to flout the law, Auckland City's top policeman, Superintendent Howard Broad, said: "He isn't breaking the law by saying what he is doing.

"I think it's probably more likely that he will be judged politically - and so unless some avenue of inquiry becomes available to us, we're unlikely to do anything about it at the moment."

Asked if that meant the police would not act on Mr Tanczos' stance, which was repeated on Holmes last night, Superintendent Broad said: "We would never rule anything out.

"We will simply apply to the case the priority that we think appropriate, and I'm not going to comment on that at the moment.

"The fact that he's on national television saying this is something that we'll just take into account."

But Mr Tanczos, who has the support of the Greens' leadership and says smoking cannabis is part of his religious culture, last night came under pressure from Justice Minister Phil Goff for "setting himself above the law."

Asked if he thought the police should act, Mr Goff said it was not for him to decide.

"But if any individual stands up in society and says, 'I'm going to break this law and I'm going to do it regularly,' then the police may feel under some public pressure to act to remedy the situation."

Mr Goff opposes decriminalisation, but said he was happy for cannabis laws to be reviewed.

He said he would strongly counsel Mr Tanczos that as an MP he should not break the law. He also said possession of 38g or more of cannabis was punishable by two years' jail - and such an offence would cost an MP his or her seat.

Mr Goff said last night that Mr Tanczos had the right to argue for a change in cannabis laws but as an MP he should abide by the law.

"If you are a member of Parliament and you help create the law then you have that extra responsibility to abide by it," he said.

"Nandor may disagree with the law but it remains the law for the time being and I would counsel him strongly against doing anything deliberately to break the law.

"If you break the law that you set because you don't like it, what message does that give to everybody else?" Mr Goff said if Mr Tanczos was found in possession of a large amount of cannabis - more than 38g - he could be convicted of an offence that would result in him losing his place in Parliament.

But Mr Tanczos said cannabis laws were not working, and had not prevented people from smoking cannabis in larger numbers.

"We do have a huge drug abuse problem. The message that you use cannabis occasionally, moderately, and responsibly - that's good role modelling for our young people."

He repeated his assurance that he would not use cannabis while on parliamentary duties.

It was "interesting" that cannabis use was seen as scandalous when people accepted members of Parliament making decisions "over a couple of whiskeys at Bellamys". --NZPA

One of their newly elected list, Nandor Tanczos, says he smokes cannabis and has every intention to continue when he becomes a sworn legislator next week. He holds that he is not breaking the law because, as a Rastafarian, he believes he has a religious dispensation under the Bill of Rights Act.

The courts will wrestle with that one if he is not careful. The views of his party leaders are of more concern.

"Good on him," says Rod Donald. "The law is an ass and the sooner we change it the better." Jeanette Fitzsimons says: "I don't have a problem with the occasional breaking of this particular law." We could expect better from those with a term in the legislature behind them. All acts of Parliament depend for their effect on public respect for the law.

The physical enforcing of law would be well nigh impossible if the vast majority had to be coerced to observe it. Police are especially conscious of that. Their job is made more difficult when prominent people preach disregard for any part of the criminal code. Police could be excused if they went to particular efforts to demonstrate that such people cannot commit crime with impunity.

Other difficulties await legislators who advocate selective respect of laws. What will Mr Donald say now to those who want to ignore the Resource Management Act? There are many who consider that law an ass. Almost everybody could name a rule they find pointless or excessive. When Parliament is persuaded to the same view, the law can be changed. But it is tempting fate to decide, as Ms Fitzsimons does, that the use of cannabis can be excused because the new Parliament is likely to decriminalise it.

Parliament is a long way from doing so. True, a select committee last year recommended a review of the drug's legal status after an inquiry into its effects on mental health. A succession of drug researchers, though not all, told the committee that cannabis did not significantly damage the health of smokers and argued that its legal prohibition made its health consequences worse. The police, conceding that their efforts had not reduced the incidence of cannabis use, told the committee they were "open-minded" on decriminalisation. That should not be seen as endorsement: police are frustrated at their inability to control the drug.

But the committee would not go as far as endorsing decriminalisation and nor, surely, will the incoming Parliament without a much wider debate than was held among professionals last year. It is significant that the Labour Party is committed only to a review of the law and if ever the issue came before Parliament it is likely that Labour would give its members a free vote. It is particularly hard to see a Prime Minister who has waged war on tobacco lend her encouragement to another substance for smoking.

The public was firmly opposed to legalising the drug when a Herald-DigiPoll survey asked the question a year ago, and it is doubtful that "decriminalisation" (instant fines instead of court proceedings and convictions) would find much favour. Even the Greens were wary of public opinion on the subject during the election campaign. The country needs a full debate before anything is done.

Campaigners have work to do before they can be confident of changing the law and, in the meantime, if they are legislators, they have a special responsibility to honour it.

Police were being cagey yesterday about whether or not they would pursue Green Party MP Nandor Tanczos, who has said he will continue to use cannabis as part of his Rastafarian religion despite entering Parliament.

A police spokeswoman said possession and use of cannabis was illegal and anyone who flouted the law risked prosecution. However, the reported comments of Mr Tanczos did not constitute "sufficient evidence" of an offence.

Detective Senior Sergeant Phil Berry, head of the organised crime unit, said that he had had "no requests" and "no intention at this stage" of taking sniffer dogs into Parliament. He said he could not do so without the permission of, or a request from, the Speaker.

Police Minister George Hawkins said: "I think anyone who breaks the law is always subject to be charged. But it is something I won't have anything to do with. There is one law in New Zealand, it doesn't matter whether you are a member of Parliament or a street kid. It applies equally."

Though he wanted a lot more information before he made up his mind about decriminalising cannabis, he said that everyone knew that the report by Parliament's health select committee said cannabis laws should be reviewed.

"I dare say there will be moves with regards to a private member's bill. It is a fairly complex issue. My own personal feeling is that it is costing a huge amount of police time at the moment."

When pushed on this point, he said: "I think most New Zealanders are fed up with the number of burglaries that are happening."

But he said he would not be directing police about the lengths they went to in prosecuting cannabis users.

Mr Tanczos, who is one of the Green Party's list MPs, has said that though he has no intention of being intoxicated while involved in any parliamentary work, he will not give up cannabis.

"I am looking forward to the day when having a joint in your leisure time is no more scandalous than having a whisky," he said.

Rastafarian Nandor Tanczos says he will keep smoking pot as an MP - and he has the backing of the Greens leadership to flout the law.

The 33-year-old Aucklander told the Herald yesterday that smoking cannabis was part of his religious culture and he was not about to give it up.

He said he used cannabis less than once a week and that there was no way he was going to be conducting parliamentary business after a smoke. He does not drink alcohol.

The Greens co-leaders, Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald, do not have a problem with one of their MPs defying the law.

"Good on him, quite frankly," Mr Donald said. "The law is an ass, and the sooner we change it the better. Clearly he is a responsible person who uses cannabis less frequently than most people drink alcohol."

Jeanette Fitzsimons said she considered Mr Tanczos a responsible person, saying he was simply flouting a law that tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, ignored. "I don't have a problem with the occasional breaking of this particular law."

She was confident a review of the cannabis laws announced by the Minister of Health, Annette King, would lead to acceptance of the Greens' policy of legalising cannabis for personal use.

Mr Tanczos said that, for Rastafarians, smoking cannabis was a spiritual continuation of references in the Bible to the use of the drug.

Asked how, as an MP, he could justify breaking the law, Mr Tanczos said: "As far as I understand, people are guaranteed the right of religious practice by the Human Rights Convention and the Bill of Rights. I'm of the opinion I'm not breaking the law."

A police spokeswoman said the possession and use of cannabis were illegal, and anyone who chose to flout the law risked being prosecuted.

"Dead sexy" and "love those dreads" are just a couple of comments being whispered about the Green Party MP in the corridors of power.

Wellington comedian and Jenny Shipley look-alike Pinky Agnew is besotted with the 33-year-old Aucklander.

"I think he's gorgeous. He's passionate - isn't that always a great thing? He looks great - those dreads really work for him - and he's obviously bright, which is always a very sexy thing."

Mr Tanczos is flattered by the attention but notes that the hair, which has not been cut for 11 years, is no fashion statement but a serious part of his Rastafarian beliefs. And admirers face bad news: Mr Tanczos enjoys a happy relationship with his partner of two years, Linda Robinson.

Dreadlocks and hemp suits were formally approved as suitable attire for MPs yesterday as new Green MPs Nandor Tanczos (campaign slogan: "Put the Dread in the House"), Sue Bradford, Sue Kedgley and Ian Ewan-Street arrived at Parliament.

The four were joined by the party's potential seventh MP, Keith Locke, whose position depends on the final vote count.

As the new MPs posed for photographs on the front steps of Parliament, Sue Bradford joked that on her last visit she had been arrested protesting against the work-for-the-dole scheme.

Mr Tanczos said he had always expected to keep his waist-length hair.

As for his dark-blue hemp suit: "I'm having it made up. I hope it will be ready in time."

The incoming Speaker, Labour's Jonathan Hunt, said he had no objection to dreadlocks or hemp suits.

"If they're properly and decently dressed, I think that's okay." The outgoing Speaker, National's Doug Kidd, said that although male MPs had to wear a suit and tie in the House, dreadlocks were a "fashion and style" item outside the rules.

And if polyester suits had been acceptable a decade ago, he could not see any reason hemp suits should not be now.

Photo: picture taken from behind Sue Kedgley, Jeanette Fitzsimons and Nandor Tanczos; Jeanette is holding some of Nandor's dreads. Caption: "DREADS ARRIVE: Outside Parliament, Greens Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons finds a new use for dreadlocks as she exerts a steadying hold over new MP Nandor Tanczos, whose campaign slogan was "Put the Dread in the House."

Mr Tanczos, who arrived at Parliament yesterday wearing jeans and sports shoes, is having a hemp suit made to fulfil a dress code dictating that male MPs wear a jacket and tie in the debating chamber.

He said he accepted that he was entering an environment where he could come under attack for being different. But he said: "The people elected us for who we are ... I don't think I want to become someone else."

Fascination with his "dreads" would eventually wear off, and his deeds would become more important than his looks, he said.

"It's focusing on the superficial, but I've got to deal with that. ... I'm hoping, for instance, there's a lot of talk about my hemp suit, that people will use that to focus on what hemp is. What kind of potential is that for our country?"

Mr Tanczos, the Greens' justice spokesman, said he was prepared to do his best and work cooperatively with other MPs.

"The real challenge is to get in there and do the good work, and let people see that we are competent and serious, and we can fulfil our function here."

He got down to work yesterday afternoon, with a three-hour caucus meeting starting soon after co-leaders Rod Donald and Jeanette Fitzsimons greeted him on the steps of Parliament.

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