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New Zealand parliament brought to a halt by haka

New Zealand's youngest MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke began the traditional ceremonial chant also ripped up a copy of the bill.

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by BOSCO MARITA

World17 November 2024 - 06:00
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In Summary


  • The MP's were angry over a controversial bill and performed the haka as a protest.
  • The proposed law would reinterpret 184 year treaty with the Māori people.


Moment MP leads haka to disrupt New Zealand parliament


New Zealands parliament was temporarily halted by Māori politicians performing a haka.

The MP's were angry over a controversial bill and performed the haka as a protest.

The proposed law would reinterpret 184 year treaty with the Māori people.

New Zealand's youngest MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke began the traditional ceremonial chant also ripped up a copy of the bill.

Parliament was briefly suspended as people in the gallery joined in, and the shouting drowned out others in the room.

Opposition party MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke began the traditional ceremonial group dance after being asked whether her party supported the bill, which faced its first vote on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a hīkoi - or peaceful protest march - organised by a Māori rights group, is continuing to make its way towards the capital, Wellington.

Thousands have already joined the nine-day march against the bill, which reached Auckland on Wednesday, having begun in the far north of New Zealand on Monday.

The country is often considered a leader in indigenous rights, but opponents of the bill fear those same rights are being put at risk by this bill.

Act, the political party that introduced the bill, argues there is a need to legally define the principles of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, which has been fundamental to race relations in New Zealand.

The core values of the treaty have, over time, been woven into New Zealand's laws in an effort to redress the wrong done to Māori during colonisation.

But Act - a minor party in the ruling centre-right coalition - say this has resulted in the country being divided by race, and the bill will allow the treaty to be interpreted more fairly through parliament, rather than the courts. The party's leader, David Seymour, has dismissed opponents as wanting to "stir up" fear and division.

Critics, however, say the legislation will divide the country and lead to the unravelling of much-needed support for many Māori.

The first reading passed on Thursday after a 30-minute break, backed by all parties from the ruling coalition. Maipi-Clarke was suspended from the house.

It is unlikely to pass a second reading, as Act's coalition partners have indicated they will not support it.

But this has not placated those worried about the bill, and its impact, with the hikoi still making progress along its 1,000km (621-mile) route.



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