- Three Te Pāti Māori MPs suspended for performing a protest haka in Parliament.
- The protest opposed a bill seeking to redefine the Treaty of Waitangi.
- Critics say the move silences indigenous voices and reflects racial bias.
In a historic decision, New Zealand’s Parliament has suspended three Māori Party MPs—Rawiri Waititi, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke—after they performed a haka in protest of the Treaty Principles Bill.
While Prime Minister Christopher Luxon insists the punishment is about maintaining parliamentary order, many have criticized the move as racially motivated.
Culture or Contempt? Māori Lawmakers Penalized for Parliament Protest
The controversy centers around the Treaty Principles Bill, a proposal that aimed to redefine the principles of New Zealand’s founding document, Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This sparked outrage across the country, with over 40,000 people protesting outside Parliament during the bill’s first reading in late 2024.
Te Pāti Māori’s haka was not a spontaneous outburst, but a deliberate act of cultural resistance. The haka, a deeply symbolic Māori tradition, was used to assert their identity and oppose legislation they believe threatens indigenous rights and sovereignty.
Suspending MPs for this action drew fierce criticism, with co-leader Ngarewa-Packer stating, “We’ve been punished for being Māori.” The disciplinary action, described as “unprecedented,” has raised concerns about the inclusivity and cultural sensitivity of New Zealand’s democratic institutions.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ comment labelling the Māori Party as “a bunch of extremists” added fuel to the fire, with accusations of systemic racism reverberating throughout political and public discourse. The episode reveals growing tension between indigenous self-determination and institutional frameworks rooted in colonial structures.
This incident marks a critical moment in New Zealand’s democratic journey, where indigenous representation, cultural expression, and parliamentary authority are colliding in powerful ways.
“We will never be silenced, and we will never be lost.” – Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke
