What's happened
Three Māori Party MPs, including co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, face significant suspensions for performing a haka protest in Parliament. The Privileges Committee recommended 21-day suspensions for the co-leaders and a 7-day suspension for Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, New Zealand's youngest MP, following their actions during a controversial vote on the Treaty Principles Bill.
What's behind the headline?
Context of the Suspensions
The recommended suspensions are unprecedented in New Zealand's parliamentary history, highlighting the tensions surrounding Māori rights and representation. The Māori Party argues that the penalties reflect systemic racism and an attempt to silence Indigenous voices.
Implications for Māori Rights
- Cultural Expression: The haka is a traditional Māori performance, and its use in Parliament raises questions about cultural expression versus parliamentary decorum.
- Political Consequences: The suspensions could galvanize support for the Māori Party, as they frame the penalties as an attack on Māori sovereignty and rights.
- Future Protests: This incident may deter future protests within Parliament, as MPs weigh the risks of severe penalties against their right to express dissent.
Broader Impact
The situation underscores ongoing struggles over Māori rights in New Zealand, particularly in the context of colonial history and contemporary governance. The Māori Party's response may resonate with voters who feel marginalized by current political dynamics, potentially influencing future elections.
What the papers say
According to Al Jazeera, the Privileges Committee's report stated that the MPs' actions could have intimidated other legislators, leading to the harsh penalties. Judith Collins, the committee chair, emphasized the seriousness of the incident, calling it the worst she has seen in her 23 years in Parliament. The Guardian reported that the Māori Party condemned the suspensions as unjust and racially discriminatory, framing them as a warning to Indigenous people to conform. SBS highlighted the global attention the haka received, noting that it became a viral sensation, which may have amplified the political ramifications of the MPs' actions. The Independent pointed out that the MPs did not appear before the committee, citing a lack of respect for Māori cultural protocols, further complicating the narrative around the suspensions.
How we got here
The suspensions stem from a protest against the Treaty Principles Bill, which aimed to redefine the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document. The bill faced widespread opposition and was ultimately defeated in April 2025. The MPs' haka performance during a parliamentary vote was deemed intimidating and in contempt of Parliament.
Go deeper
- What was the Treaty Principles Bill about?
- How has the Māori Party responded to the suspensions?
- What are the implications for Māori rights in New Zealand?
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What Happened with the Haka Performance in New Zealand's Parliament?
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Rawiri Wikuki Waititi is a New Zealand politician. He is co-leader of the Māori Party and has served as the Member of Parliament for Waiariki since 2020.
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Debbie Anne Ngarewa-Packer is a New Zealand politician. She is a Member of Parliament and co-leader of the Māori Party, and is the leader and chief executive of the Ngāti Ruanui iwi.
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The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand.
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Te Pāti Māori ([tɛ ˈpaːti ˈmaːori]), also known as the Māori Party, is a left-wing political party in New Zealand advocating Māori rights. With the exception of a handful of general electorates, Te Pāti Māori contests the reserved Māori electo
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Judith Anne Collins is a New Zealand politician serving as the Leader of the New Zealand National Party and Leader of the Opposition since 14 July 2020. Collins is the second female Leader of the National Party, after Jenny Shipley.
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New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It comprises two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island —and around 600 smaller islands, covering a total area of 268,021 square kilometres.