‘Restecp!’: NZ minister drops classic Ali G line while quelling hecklers in Parliament

WELLINGTON, June 18 — New Zealand’s top diplomat turned to the wisdom of satirical TV creation Ali G today, calling for “restecp” as he faced heckles during a parliamentary hearing.

Winston Peters, of the populist NZ First party, was giving his opening address to a hearing when he complained about a noisy discussion outside.

“You hear that... as Ali G would say, ‘maybe have a bit of restecp’.”

A creation of comedian Sacha Baron Cohen and a staple of British TV in the 2000s, the tracksuit- and bling-wearing rudeboy frequently skewered unsuspecting politicians and other establishment figures.

In the 2002 film Ali G Indahouse, the streetwise Staines native addresses British lawmakers “dissing our posse”, and urges them to be kinder to each other.

“All you ever do all day long is cuss each other,” Ali G tells them.

“R-E-S-T-E-C-P. Do you even know what that spells?”

A baffled MP then replies: “restecp?”

Peters — known for colourful outbursts and pinstripe suits — did not reference Ali G’s other catchphrases, including “booyakasha”, “relax ya batty” and “big up yourself”.

The public hearing was part of the New Zealand parliament’s scrutiny week, which sees government ministers and heads of public sector organisations grilled over their decision-making.

Today’s hearing was paused for about five minutes while security removed a heckler protesting New Zealand’s response to Israel’s conflict in Gaza. — AFP