Maori MPs Punished for Haka Protest in New Zealand's Parliament
Maori Officials Faced Hefty Penalty for Performing Haka within Parliament's Halls - Parliament imposes significant penalty on Maori legislators for performing Haka within legislative chambers
Last year, a heated controversy brewed in New Zealand's Parliament over a bill that aimed to revise the Treaty of Waitangi, a foundational document signed between the British Crown and Maori tribal leaders in 1840. The Maori community fiercely opposed the bill, arguing it would undermine their rights.
When the bill was under debate, three Maori MPs, led by the youngest among them, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, decided to take a stand. They stormed the chamber with the Haka, a traditional Maori dance, tore up the bill, and confronted their opponents. Their bold move ignited a firestorm of controversy.
The parliament briefly suspended these MPs, imposing the longest suspensions in its history. Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, co-leaders of the Te Pāti Māori party, faced a 21-day ban from attending sessions, while Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke was excluded for a week. Ngarewa-Packer's gesture, which was interpreted as simulating the firing of a gun, was at the heart of the disciplinary action.
The Haka, a symbol of Maori identity and resistance, continued to be a contentious issue among MPs. Some deemed it intimidating, while others saw it as a legitimate form of protest. Despite the heated debates, the bill was eventually rejected, marking a significant shift in public and parliamentary opinion.
- New Zealand
- Maori
- Bill
The controversy revolved around the Treaty Principles Bill, which aimed to reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangi. Protesting the bill, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, along with her fellow MPs, stormed the Parliament in November 2024, leading a Haka, tearing up the bill, and disrupting the proceedings. Critics saw their actions as disruptive and intimidating.
Eventually, the Maori MPs found themselves facing disciplinary actions. The suspensions were not directly due to the Haka but were mainly inspired by inappropriate behavior during the protest. Despite this, the controversial bill was ultimately voted down in April 2025, indicating a significant change in public and parliamentary opinion.
The incident serving as a stark reminder of the cultural significance of the haka as a symbol of Maori identity and their unwavering resistance, underscored the deep-seated tensions over indigenous rights and the role of the Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand's governance.
Sources: Radio New Zealand, BBC
- New Zealand
- Maori
- Treaty of Waitangi
- Bill
- Haka
The parliamentary suspensions of the Maori MPs in 2025 were a result of their controversial actions during the protest against the Treaty Principles Bill, not solely the performance of the Haka. The rejection of the bill in April 2025 reflects a notable shift in public and parliamentary opinion, highlighting ongoing cultural tensions surrounding indigenous rights and the Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand.
The controversy surrounding the Maori MPs' Haka protest and the Treaty Principles Bill has been a focus of policy-and-legislation, general-news, and politics discussion, both domestically and internationally, as reported by sources such as Radio New Zealand and BBC.
