I do not think there was a Prayer Tuesday.
Definitely No Prayer Wednesday
Definitely No Prayer Thursday
No explanation either although I may have missed it if there was one Tuesday.
I am no religious zealot, the last time I was in a church was for a funeral about 6 weeks ago. The time before that was about May for the same reason. My tokens to religious fame are:
- I was baptized in the Anglican Church Porangahau.
- Cardinal John Dew is a friend of about 60 years.
- mrspdm and I were married in the Presbyterian Church Waipawa on 18 April 1970 and attended that church for reading of `the bans’ before our wedding.
- Our four children were baptized in St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Gisborne.
But I do believe there is a place for a daily prayer to start Parliamentary proceedings. At the start of Question Time seems the best time because it is when most if not all Parliamentarians are present in the house.
Trevor Mallard allowed the Prayer to be meddled with and dare I say bastardised so if it is not now considered fit for purpose I understand. There is always the trusty old Lords Prayer to replace it.
I spent four years not only reciting the Lords Prayer but, also singing God Save The Queen most mornings at school assembly. That did not do me or any of my fellow pupils any harm.
So come on Big Gerry lets get the prayer back before we have to endure Willie Jackson or one of the Maori Party activists chanting something else that 96% of New Zealanders will not understand.
Parliamentary dress and standards are low enough these days so lets start to drag them up by showing respect and consideration for the traditions of the institution that is Parliament.
No Minister 
It is also the basis for our English parliamentary system.
Surely in this age of enlightenment, Matauranga Maori and other wonderfulness, there would be a moving waiata instead of pale, stale and male colonists’ prayer?
pdm, I agree – well almost.
Parliament in the modern age consists of people of varying religions as, of course, does New Zealand.
I suggest a prayer to each and every deity be included in the start-up of every session of Parliament.
If everyone is included in this prayer it will not only increase unity across all belief systems within New Zealand but also limit the time these unrepresentative, money-grabbing, thieving bastards have to fuck up New Zealand even further.
You are the last of the optimists MTT.
It could take all day once you are including the Christians, Jews, Maoris, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Pastafarians, Vodunisants, Confucianists, Bahais, and Destiny.