VIDEO: New Zealand MPs disrupt parliament with haka to protest Indigenous treaty bill

New Zealand’s parliament recently witnessed a powerful protest when MPs, led by the country’s youngest MP, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, performed a traditional haka to express their opposition to the Treaty Principles Bill. This bill, introduced by the ACT New Zealand party, proposes changes to the Treaty of Waitangi’s principles, which has sparked significant concern among the Maori community and their supporters, who see it as a threat to their rights .

The Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840 between the British Crown and over 500 Maori chiefs, is New Zealand’s founding document and outlines their shared governance. It still influences current laws and policies. The bill’s introduction has led to widespread opposition, with hundreds of Maori beginning a nine-day protest march, or hikoi, to the capital, Wellington.

Maipi-Clarke, a 22-year-old Te Pati Maori MP, tore up a copy of the bill during the parliamentary session, prompting Speaker Gerry Brownlee to briefly suspend the House. Her actions were supported by the public gallery, and even Prime Minister Christopher Luxon criticized the bill, stating that 184 years of debate and discussion cannot be negated by a simplistic bill .

This isn’t Maipi-Clarke’s first time making headlines with her powerful haka performances. In January, she performed the traditional Maori war cry during her maiden speech, showcasing her commitment to amplifying the voices of the Maori community ¹. Her activism and dedication to her roots have made her a prominent figure in New Zealand politics.