Three Lawmakers Suspended from New Zealand Parliament for Performing Haka in Protest Against Controversial Bill

Three Lawmakers Suspended from New Zealand Parliament for Performing Haka in Protest Against Controversial Bill
Wellington, New Zealand — Three members of New Zealand’s Parliament have been suspended for a record duration after performing a traditional Māori haka dance as a form of protest in Parliament.

Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke has been suspended for seven days, while her party leaders from Te Pāti Māori, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, have been suspended for 21 days. Previously, the longest suspension for any MP had been just three days.

The protest occurred last November when the MPs performed the haka in opposition to a widely unpopular bill they claimed would undermine the rights of indigenous peoples. The bill was later scrapped.

The protest sparked global attention and triggered months of parliamentary debate over whether New Zealand’s Parliament respects indigenous culture or feels uneasy about it.

In April, a parliamentary committee released a report stating that the punishment was not for the haka itself but because the MPs advanced toward their opponents while performing it. Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke rejected this explanation, arguing that many MPs in the past had crossed the chamber without facing any disciplinary action.

With the ruling parties holding a majority, the suspension motion easily passed. However, the severity of the punishment was so significant that Speaker Gerry Brownlee had earlier called for an open debate in Parliament in April and urged all parties to reach a consensus.

Ultimately, no agreement was reached. In an emotional and lengthy debate on Thursday, government MPs rejected the opposition's proposal for a lighter punishment.

Initially, it was suspected that the opposition might resort to a filibuster to prolong the debate. However, with the outcome already clear and no side willing to shift its position, all parties agreed that the debate should conclude.