New Zealand’s parliament issued record-breaking suspensions to three Māori lawmakers on Thursday for a powerful haka protest against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill last November, sparking fresh tensions over Indigenous rights and parliamentary accountability.
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Key Details
⚖️ Unprecedented Suspensions:
- 21-day bans for Māori Party co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
- 7-day suspension for Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke (NZ’s youngest MP, 21)
- Longest-ever parliamentary suspensions in NZ history
💢 The Protest That Triggered It:
- During a November 2023 vote on the Treaty Principles Bill—which sought to reinterpret the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi—the MPs:
- Performed a defiant haka (traditional Māori war dance)
- Ripped up the bill in the chamber
- Video of the protest went globally viral, symbolizing Māori resistance
🗣️ MPs’ Defiant Stand:
- Waititi held up a noose in parliament, invoking his ancestor’s wrongful execution:
“You traded the noose for legislation. We won’t be silenced.” - Maipi-Clarke condemned double standards:
“Others swear, drive on parliament steps, even assault—no punishment. But defending our treaty? Maximum penalty.”
🇳🇿 Political Backlash:
- NZ Foreign Minister Winston Peters (of Māori descent) mocked Waititi’s facial tattoos, calling the Māori Party “extremists.”
- The trio boycotted the Privileges Committee hearing, calling it biased.
Why This Matters
- The Treaty of Waitangi is NZ’s founding document, guaranteeing Māori rights.
- The failed bill sought to dilute its principles, alarming Māori (17% of NZ’s population).
- Critics say the suspensions punish Indigenous dissent while ignoring worse misconduct by others.
