The New Zealand parliament may suspend three Māori MPs following a haka performed in protest against a failed treaty bill. Critics claim the proposed punishment underscores efforts to silence Māori voices amid ongoing racial tensions over the treaty.**
Māori MPs Face Suspension for Haka Protest Amid Controversial Bill Debate**
Māori MPs Face Suspension for Haka Protest Amid Controversial Bill Debate**
Three Māori parliamentarians could be suspended after performing a haka to protest a contentious treaty bill, a move deemed intimidating by a parliamentary committee.**
A New Zealand parliamentary committee has proposed the suspension of three Māori MPs after they performed a haka as a protest during a parliamentary session last year. The traditional Māori dance was initiated by Opposition MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke when she was questioned about her party's stance on a contentious bill that aimed to redefine the foundational Treaty of Waitangi, a proposal that ultimately failed in a recent vote.
The parliamentary committee argued that the performance could have "intimidated" other lawmakers, recommending a one-week suspension for Maipi-Clarke and a 21-day ban for Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. The Māori Party condemned these recommendations as a "warning shot" intended to stifle dissent. Their statement underscored that such punitive measures indicate colonial powers retaliating against indigenous resistance.
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, who identifies as Māori, criticized the MPs for allegedly "flouting the rules" and using intimidating tactics like the haka. Their suspensions will be subject to a parliamentary vote on Tuesday.
The recently defeated Treaty Principles Bill sought to legally redefine the treaties made between Māori leaders and the British Crown in 1840. It faced widespread backlash leading to large-scale demonstrations, including over 40,000 protestors gathering outside parliament during its first reading in November of last year. Critics of the legislation argue that it risks further dividing New Zealand and undermining support for Māori citizens.
Maipi-Clarke, who instigated the haka, had previously ripped up a copy of the controversial bill upon its introduction, signifying the deep discontent among many Māori towards colonial policies and the treatment of indigenous rights.
