NZ Speaker gets shirty

A NEW Zealand politician has been ejected from the nation's Parliament for wearing the jersey of her favourite Super 15 rugby team.

Opposition MP Clare Curran was ordered to leave the chamber by Speaker Lockwood Smith, who objected to her wearing the blue and gold shirt of the Otago Highlanders. Curran was wearing the jersey to protest against the decision of the Otago Highlanders' board to change the team's colours to green.

Smith said the shirt did not meet parliamentary standards, which state female MPs must wear "normal business attire".