The New Zealand parliament has suspended three Māori MPs for a haka performed in protest against a controversial bill seeking to redefine the Treaty of Waitangi. This unprecedented decision, drawing significant public attention, emphasizes the growing rift between the Māori community and the conservative government.
Māori MPs Face Unprecedented Suspensions Over Protest Haka in Parliament
Māori MPs Face Unprecedented Suspensions Over Protest Haka in Parliament
New Zealand parliament's radical decision to suspend three Māori MPs highlights tensions over indigenous rights and government policies.
New Zealand's parliament has voted to suspend three Māori Members of Parliament for performing a haka during a session last year as a form of protest. The traditional dance was initiated by Opposition MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke after inquiries about the stance of her party, Te Pāti Māori (Māori Party), on a highly contentious bill. Maipi-Clarke has been issued a seven-day suspension, while co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer face bans of 21 days each.
The disputed legislation aimed to amend the interpretation of New Zealand’s foundational treaty, a move that faced backlash and resulted in its eventual defeat. Despite New Zealand's reputation for championing indigenous rights, relations with the Māori community have soured under the current conservative leadership.
In November, footage of the MPs performing the haka captured public attention worldwide. Following an investigation, a parliamentary committee deemed the act "intimidating" to fellow lawmakers—leading to these disciplinary actions, which raised eyebrows due to their severity. Prior to this, the longest parliamentary ban given to a New Zealand lawmaker had been three days.
During the debate over these penalties, Maipi-Clarke delivered a poignant speech, questioning whether their vocal expressions of dissent were seen as overly disruptive. The discussion also included remarks from New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, who disparaged the Māori Party as "extremists," invited an apology, and proclaimed that New Zealand had "had enough of them."
The Māori Party holds six of the 123 parliamentary seats in New Zealand, and the controversial Treaty Principles Bill experienced a significant defeat in April, with a vote tally of 112 against and only 11 in favor. The bill had been proposed by the right-wing party Act as a means to legally establish the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, a historical agreement made in 1840 between the British Crown and Māori leaders. However, opponents argued the bill would exacerbate divisions rather than unify the country.
The initial reading of the bill incited widespread protests, drawing over 40,000 participants to Parliament in November. The dynamics elicited by the haka performance present a powerful narrative about the evolving engagement of Māori politics within New Zealand's legislative framework.
