Maori MPs Execute Haka in Parliamentary Session
Lawmaker Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke has been expelled from New Zealand’s legislature for interrupting a ceremonial Maori chant. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Lawmaker Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke has been expelled from New Zealand’s legislature for performing a Haka.
On Thursday, New Zealand’s parliament was suspended following a dramatic protest by members of the Māori Party, who tore up a copy of a controversial bill regarding tribal rights and initiated a traditional war chant in the chamber.
The 1840 Treaty of Waitangi has served as a framework for the relationship between New Zealand’s indigenous Māori population and European settlers for nearly two centuries. The treaty assured the Māori that they would retain their lands and customs in return for accepting British governance. Over the years, it has been interpreted by both parliament and courts to secure a wide range of rights for the Māori, including hiring quotas and financial reparations.
The libertarian ACT party, a member of the government coalition, claims that the treaty discriminates against non-Māori citizens. They have proposed a bill aimed at significantly narrowing its interpretation.
During the vote on the bill Thursday, Māori Party MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke tore up the legislation and began performing a Haka. Her colleagues joined her in the chant, along with opposition lawmakers and spectators in the gallery.
Speaker Gerry Brownlee, unable to restore order amidst the uproar, suspended Maipi-Clarke from parliament for one day.
Despite the objections raised by the Māori Party, the vote went in favor of the bill, which will now move forward to a public consultation phase. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expressed his opposition to the bill, but his National Party decided to support it in accordance with a prior agreement with ACT. The National Party holds the largest share in New Zealand’s coalition government, alongside junior partners ACT and New Zealand First.
The performance of Hakas in parliament is not unprecedented; Māori Party MPs have done so before. In 2021, for instance, party co-leader Rawiri Waititi was removed from the legislature for performing the ceremonial chant after a National Party member argued against establishing a separate healthcare system for the Māori community, labeling it as discriminatory.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
On Thursday, New Zealand’s parliament was suspended following a dramatic protest by members of the Māori Party, who tore up a copy of a controversial bill regarding tribal rights and initiated a traditional war chant in the chamber.
The 1840 Treaty of Waitangi has served as a framework for the relationship between New Zealand’s indigenous Māori population and European settlers for nearly two centuries. The treaty assured the Māori that they would retain their lands and customs in return for accepting British governance. Over the years, it has been interpreted by both parliament and courts to secure a wide range of rights for the Māori, including hiring quotas and financial reparations.
The libertarian ACT party, a member of the government coalition, claims that the treaty discriminates against non-Māori citizens. They have proposed a bill aimed at significantly narrowing its interpretation.
During the vote on the bill Thursday, Māori Party MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke tore up the legislation and began performing a Haka. Her colleagues joined her in the chant, along with opposition lawmakers and spectators in the gallery.
Speaker Gerry Brownlee, unable to restore order amidst the uproar, suspended Maipi-Clarke from parliament for one day.
Despite the objections raised by the Māori Party, the vote went in favor of the bill, which will now move forward to a public consultation phase. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expressed his opposition to the bill, but his National Party decided to support it in accordance with a prior agreement with ACT. The National Party holds the largest share in New Zealand’s coalition government, alongside junior partners ACT and New Zealand First.
The performance of Hakas in parliament is not unprecedented; Māori Party MPs have done so before. In 2021, for instance, party co-leader Rawiri Waititi was removed from the legislature for performing the ceremonial chant after a National Party member argued against establishing a separate healthcare system for the Māori community, labeling it as discriminatory.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
