‘Charles’ or ‘skin rash’? Māori MPs’ oath of allegiance to king sparks translation debate

At the opening of parliament, lawmakers for New Zealand's Mori party used a word for Charles that can also be used to describe skin conditions

Mori party MPs have departed from the traditional oath of allegiance to King Charles III at the opening of New Zealand's 54th parliament, sparking a debate about whether the Mori word they used to describe him meant Charles" or skin rash".

As part of the formalities to open parliament, MPs must swear allegiance to New Zealand's head of state, something Te Pti Mori, a Mori political party, has long protested against. MPs can say the oath in either English or Te reo Mori.