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...
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