Three Māori lawmakers in New Zealand—Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Rawiri Waititi, and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke—received unprecedented suspensions from Parliament for up to three weeks for performing a protest haka against a controversial bill in November 2022. This bill sought to reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s foundational document established in 1840 between the British Crown and Māori chiefs, which addresses Māori rights. The politicians performed the haka, a vital cultural expression of Māori defiance, during a parliamentary session to oppose this legislation, which they feared would undermine decades of progress for Māori rights.
A parliamentary committee found the lawmakers in contempt for their actions, citing intimidation of members and recommending the harsh suspensions, which are typically unpaid. Ngarewa-Packer and Waititi each received three-week suspensions, while the 22-year-old Maipi-Clarke was suspended for one week due to her admission of contrition. This kind of penalty is unusual in New Zealand politics; prior suspensions rarely exceeded three days.
The opposition Labour and Green parties criticized the sanctions as excessive and opted for censure instead. Critics of the bill, which was ultimately defeated in April, argued it threatened Māori welfare, as Māori people, constituting about 20% of New Zealand’s population, face disparities in health, education, and criminal justice. The haka performance, which went viral, was considered a peaceful protest, but lawmakers like Judith Collins deemed it disruptive and expressed significant concern over the manner in which it was executed.
Cultural experts suggested that the suspensions could impede reconciliation efforts between the government and Māori communities, highlighting ongoing struggles for respect and representation within New Zealand’s governance.
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