On Thursday, New Zealand’s parliament was thrown into chaos when members of the Maori Party ripped up a controversial bill and performed a traditional Maori war chant, known as a haka, in protest. This dramatic scene took place during a vote on a bill that could change the way the country interprets the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, a historic agreement between New Zealand’s native Maori people and British settlers.
The Treaty of Waitangi promised that the Maori would keep their lands and traditions in exchange for accepting British rule. For almost 200 years, it has shaped the rights of the Maori people, guaranteeing them things like land rights, financial reparations, and hiring quotas to help them in various areas of life.
However, the libertarian ACT party, part of New Zealand’s ruling coalition, believes the treaty gives too many special privileges to the Maori. They argue that it discriminates against non-Maori New Zealanders and are pushing for a bill to limit the treaty’s benefits. This bill has caused a huge stir, especially among the Maori Party.
During the vote on the bill, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, a Maori Party MP, stood up, tore up a copy of the controversial legislation, and immediately started performing the haka. A haka is a traditional dance and chant, often used to show strength or protest. Maipi-Clarke’s colleagues joined her, and soon, even some opposition MPs and people in the gallery stood up and joined in. The powerful display of emotion and tradition left the parliament buzzing.
The Speaker of Parliament, Gerry Brownlee, was unable to control the shouting and disruption, so he decided to suspend the session and kick Maipi-Clarke out of the parliament for a day.
Despite the Maori Party’s fierce protest, the bill still passed the vote and will now go through a public consultation process. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, although opposed to the bill, had to support it because his party, the National Party, had an agreement with the ACT party to back the bill. The National Party is the largest party in the government coalition, with ACT and New Zealand First as smaller partners.
This wasn’t the first time the Maori Party had made waves in parliament with a haka. In 2021, Rawiri Waititi, another Maori Party MP, was also kicked out after performing a haka in protest over a debate about a separate healthcare system for Maori people.
The Maori Party’s powerful protest showed just how deeply the Treaty of Waitangi and its interpretation matter to New Zealand’s Maori people. As the bill continues to move forward, it’s clear that this issue is far from over, and the tension in New Zealand’s parliament is likely to keep growing.
