Te Pāti Māori MPs' Haka sparks debate on Māori rights in Parliament
By abstaining from a
New Zealand Parliament
Privileges Committee hearing on their
haka protest
against the
Treaty Principles Bill
, the
Te Pāti Māori
MPs have highlighted the tension between cultural expression and legislative protocols.
Co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, alongside MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, submitted written statements to the committee on April 23, citing a "lack of procedural fairness" and a disregard for
tikanga Māori
as reasons for their absence.
Tikanga Māori means the traditional ways, rules, and values that guide how Māori people live and interact with others.
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Their requests for a joint hearing, inclusion of expert testimony from tikanga authority Sir Pou Temara, and legal representation were reportedly denied without explanation.
The MPs defended their November 2024 haka as a constitutionally protected form of political expression, responding to what they described as "the worst potential legislative breach of Te Tiriti(Māori name for the
Treaty of Waitangi
) in our generation." They emphasized that the haka is not merely a performance but a profound expression of identity, protest, and ancestral connection, and the permission for the haka was secured from Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Te Āti Awa, aligning with tikanga protocols.
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The Treaty Principles Bill, introduced by the ACT Party, aimed to redefine the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, a foundational document signed in 1840 between Māori chiefs and the British Crown.
Critics argued that the bill threatened
Māori rights
and sovereignty, leading to widespread opposition, including a massive protest march in Wellington. The bill was ultimately voted down on its second reading in April 2025.
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters criticized Te Pāti Māori's plans to hold an independent inquiry into the matter, labeling it a "political carnival."
As the Privileges Committee deliberates on potential sanctions, the broader conversation about the place of tikanga Māori in governance continues to evolve.
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