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Toronto Sun
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
New Zealand Parliament suspends 3 Māori Party lawmakers for haka protest
Published Jun 05, 2025 • 3 minute read New Zealand lawmakers Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, top left, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, bottom left, and Rawiri Waititi, bottom right, watch as other legislators debate their proposed bans in parliament in Wellington on Thursday, June 5, 2025. Photo by Charlotte Graham-McLay / AP Photo WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand legislators voted Thursday to enact record suspensions from Parliament for three lawmakers who performed a Māori haka to protest a proposed law. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke received a seven-day ban and the leaders of her political party, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, were barred for 21 days. Three days had been the longest ban for a lawmaker from New Zealand's Parliament before. The lawmakers from Te Pāti Māori, the Māori Party, performed the haka, a chanting dance of challenge, in November to oppose a widely unpopular bill, now defeated, that they said would reverse Indigenous rights. The protest drew global headlines and provoked months of fraught debate among lawmakers about what the consequences for the lawmakers' actions should be and the place of Māori culture in Parliament. Why the punishment was so strict A committee of the lawmakers' peers in April recommended the lengthy bans. It said the lawmakers were not being punished for the haka, but for striding across the floor of the debating chamber toward their opponents while doing it. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Judith Collins, the committee chair, said the lawmakers' behaviour was egregious, disruptive and potentially intimidating. Maipi-Clarke, 22, rejected that description Thursday, citing other instances when legislators have left their seats and approached opponents without sanction. The suspended legislators said they are being treated more harshly than others because they are Māori. 'I came into this house to give a voice to the voiceless. Is that the real issue here?' Maipi-Clarke asked Parliament. 'Is that the real intimidation here? Are our voices too loud for this house?' Why this haka was controversial Inside and outside Parliament, the haka has increasingly been welcomed as an important part of New Zealand life. The sacred chant can be a challenge to the viewer but is not violent. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. As Māori language and culture have become part of mainstream New Zealand in recent years, haka appear in a range of cultural, somber and celebratory settings. They also have rung out in Parliament to welcome the passage of high-profile laws. Some who decried the protest haka in Parliament cited its timing, with Maipi-Clarke beginning the chant as votes were being tallied and causing a brief suspension of proceedings. She has privately apologized for the disruption to Parliament's Speaker, she said Thursday. A few lawmakers urged their peers to consider rewriting rules about what lawmakers could do in Parliament to recognize Māori cultural protocols as accepted forms of protest. One cited changes to allow breastfeeding in the debating chamber as evidence the institution had amended rules before. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Normally the parliamentary committee that decides on punishments for errant lawmakers is in agreement on what should happen to them. But panel members were sharply divided over the haka protest and the lengthy punishments were advanced only because the government has more legislators in Parliament than the opposition. One party in the government bloc wanted even longer suspensions and had asked the committee if the Māori party lawmakers could be jailed. Most in opposition rejected any punishment beyond the one-day ban Maipi-Clarke already served. Speaker Gerry Brownlee urged lawmakers last month to negotiate a consensus and ordered a free-ranging debate that would continue until all agreed to put the sanctions to a vote. But no such accord was reached after hours of occasionally emotional speeches in which opposition lawmakers accused the government of undermining democracy by passing such a severe punishment on its opponents. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. While the bans were certain to pass, even as the debate began Thursday it remained unclear whether opposition lawmakers would filibuster to prevent the suspensions from reaching a vote. By evening, with no one's mind changed, all lawmakers agreed the debate should end. Every government lawmaker voted for the punishments, while all opposition members voted against them. The law that prompted the protest Thursday's debate capped a fraught episode for race relations in New Zealand, beginning with the controversial bill that the Māori Party lawmakers opposed. The measures would have rewritten principles in the country's founding document, a treaty between Māori tribal leaders and representatives of the British Crown signed at the time New Zealand was colonized. The bill's authors were chagrined by moves from Parliament and the courts in recent decades to enshrine the Treaty of Waitangi's promises. Opponents warned of constitutional crisis if the law was passed and tens of thousands of people marched to Parliament last November to oppose it. Despite growing recognition for the treaty, Māori remain disadvantaged on most social and economic metrics compared to non-Māori New Zealanders. NHL Columnists Columnists Columnists Columnists
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
New Zealand Parliament suspends three lawmakers who performed Māori haka in protest
New Zealand legislators voted on Thursday (June 5, 2025) to enact record suspensions from Parliament for three lawmakers who performed a Māori haka to protest a proposed law. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke received a seven-day ban and the leaders of her political party, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, were barred for 21 days. Three days had been the longest ban for a lawmaker from New Zealand's Parliament before. The lawmakers from Te Pāti Māori, the Māori Party, performed the haka, a chanting dance of challenge, last November to oppose a widely unpopular bill, now defeated, that they said would reverse Indigenous rights. But the protest drew global headlines and provoked months of fraught debate among lawmakers about what the consequences for the lawmakers' actions should be and whether New Zealand's Parliament welcomed or valued Māori culture — or felt threatened by it. A committee of the lawmakers' peers in April recommended the lengthy punishments in a report that said the lawmakers were not being punished for the haka itself, but for striding across the floor of the debating chamber towards their opponents while they did it. Ms. Maipi-Clarke on Thursday (June 5, 2025) rejected that, citing other instances where legislators have left their seats and approached their opponents without sanction. It was expected that the suspensions would be approved, because government parties have more seats in Parliament than the opposition and had the necessary votes to affirm them. But the punishment was so severe that Parliament Speaker Gerry Brownlee in April ordered a free-ranging debate among lawmakers and urged them to attempt to reach a consensus on what repercussions were appropriate. No such accord was reached on Thursday (June 5, 2025). During hours of at times emotional speeches, government lawmakers rejected opposition proposals for lighter sanctions. There were suggestions that Opposition lawmakers might extend the debate for days or even longer through filibuster-style speeches, but with the outcome already certain and no one's mind changed, all lawmakers agreed that the debate should end.
The Advertiser
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Three Maori MPs suspended from NZ parliament for haka
New Zealand's parliament has voted to enact record suspensions for three Māori MPs who performed a haka to protest a controversial bill. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, 22, received a seven-day ban and her colleagues from Te Pāti Māori, the Māori Party, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, are barred for 21 days. A parliamentary privileges committee in May recommended the suspension of the trio for acting in "a manner that could have the effect of intimidating a member of the house." Suspending MPs is rare in New Zealand's parliament with only three suspended in the past 10 years, according to parliamentary services. Before Thursday, the longest suspension was for three days. Last November, Maipi-Clarke became a global viral sensation with her animated dismissal of the Treaty Principles Bill, ripping it up and performing the war dance with her Maori Party co-leaders. While the MPs are suspended, they will not be paid or be able to vote on legislation. Maipi-Clarke told parliament ahead of Thursday's vote that the suspension was an effort to stop Maori from making themselves heard in parliament. "Are our voices too loud for this house? Is that the reason why we are being silenced? Are our voices shaking the core foundation of this house? The house we had no voice in building… We will never be silenced and we will never be lost," she said. Attorney-General Judith Collins, who heads the privileges committee, previously told parliament the haka forced the Speaker to suspend proceedings for 30 minutes and that no permission had been sought to perform it. "It's not about the haka ... it is about following the rules of parliament that we are all obliged to follow and that we all pledged to follow," Collins said. The Labour party called for a compromise and proposed censure instead of suspension. The Treaty Principles Bill was a reform championed by the right-wing ACT Party to redefine the Treaty of Waitangi in law, stripping rights given to Māori at New Zealand's foundation. While the bill generated unprecedented protests across New Zealand, including tens of thousands marching on parliament, it did not become law. The National party, led by Prime Minister Chris Luxon, agreed only to introduce the law - but not pass it - as part of a coalition agreement with the ACT party that allowed it to form government. After months of public consultation and nationwide backlash, National and NZ First, abandoned their support. with AAP and Reuters New Zealand's parliament has voted to enact record suspensions for three Māori MPs who performed a haka to protest a controversial bill. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, 22, received a seven-day ban and her colleagues from Te Pāti Māori, the Māori Party, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, are barred for 21 days. A parliamentary privileges committee in May recommended the suspension of the trio for acting in "a manner that could have the effect of intimidating a member of the house." Suspending MPs is rare in New Zealand's parliament with only three suspended in the past 10 years, according to parliamentary services. Before Thursday, the longest suspension was for three days. Last November, Maipi-Clarke became a global viral sensation with her animated dismissal of the Treaty Principles Bill, ripping it up and performing the war dance with her Maori Party co-leaders. While the MPs are suspended, they will not be paid or be able to vote on legislation. Maipi-Clarke told parliament ahead of Thursday's vote that the suspension was an effort to stop Maori from making themselves heard in parliament. "Are our voices too loud for this house? Is that the reason why we are being silenced? Are our voices shaking the core foundation of this house? The house we had no voice in building… We will never be silenced and we will never be lost," she said. Attorney-General Judith Collins, who heads the privileges committee, previously told parliament the haka forced the Speaker to suspend proceedings for 30 minutes and that no permission had been sought to perform it. "It's not about the haka ... it is about following the rules of parliament that we are all obliged to follow and that we all pledged to follow," Collins said. The Labour party called for a compromise and proposed censure instead of suspension. The Treaty Principles Bill was a reform championed by the right-wing ACT Party to redefine the Treaty of Waitangi in law, stripping rights given to Māori at New Zealand's foundation. While the bill generated unprecedented protests across New Zealand, including tens of thousands marching on parliament, it did not become law. The National party, led by Prime Minister Chris Luxon, agreed only to introduce the law - but not pass it - as part of a coalition agreement with the ACT party that allowed it to form government. After months of public consultation and nationwide backlash, National and NZ First, abandoned their support. with AAP and Reuters New Zealand's parliament has voted to enact record suspensions for three Māori MPs who performed a haka to protest a controversial bill. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, 22, received a seven-day ban and her colleagues from Te Pāti Māori, the Māori Party, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, are barred for 21 days. A parliamentary privileges committee in May recommended the suspension of the trio for acting in "a manner that could have the effect of intimidating a member of the house." Suspending MPs is rare in New Zealand's parliament with only three suspended in the past 10 years, according to parliamentary services. Before Thursday, the longest suspension was for three days. Last November, Maipi-Clarke became a global viral sensation with her animated dismissal of the Treaty Principles Bill, ripping it up and performing the war dance with her Maori Party co-leaders. While the MPs are suspended, they will not be paid or be able to vote on legislation. Maipi-Clarke told parliament ahead of Thursday's vote that the suspension was an effort to stop Maori from making themselves heard in parliament. "Are our voices too loud for this house? Is that the reason why we are being silenced? Are our voices shaking the core foundation of this house? The house we had no voice in building… We will never be silenced and we will never be lost," she said. Attorney-General Judith Collins, who heads the privileges committee, previously told parliament the haka forced the Speaker to suspend proceedings for 30 minutes and that no permission had been sought to perform it. "It's not about the haka ... it is about following the rules of parliament that we are all obliged to follow and that we all pledged to follow," Collins said. The Labour party called for a compromise and proposed censure instead of suspension. The Treaty Principles Bill was a reform championed by the right-wing ACT Party to redefine the Treaty of Waitangi in law, stripping rights given to Māori at New Zealand's foundation. While the bill generated unprecedented protests across New Zealand, including tens of thousands marching on parliament, it did not become law. The National party, led by Prime Minister Chris Luxon, agreed only to introduce the law - but not pass it - as part of a coalition agreement with the ACT party that allowed it to form government. After months of public consultation and nationwide backlash, National and NZ First, abandoned their support. with AAP and Reuters New Zealand's parliament has voted to enact record suspensions for three Māori MPs who performed a haka to protest a controversial bill. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, 22, received a seven-day ban and her colleagues from Te Pāti Māori, the Māori Party, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, are barred for 21 days. A parliamentary privileges committee in May recommended the suspension of the trio for acting in "a manner that could have the effect of intimidating a member of the house." Suspending MPs is rare in New Zealand's parliament with only three suspended in the past 10 years, according to parliamentary services. Before Thursday, the longest suspension was for three days. Last November, Maipi-Clarke became a global viral sensation with her animated dismissal of the Treaty Principles Bill, ripping it up and performing the war dance with her Maori Party co-leaders. While the MPs are suspended, they will not be paid or be able to vote on legislation. Maipi-Clarke told parliament ahead of Thursday's vote that the suspension was an effort to stop Maori from making themselves heard in parliament. "Are our voices too loud for this house? Is that the reason why we are being silenced? Are our voices shaking the core foundation of this house? The house we had no voice in building… We will never be silenced and we will never be lost," she said. Attorney-General Judith Collins, who heads the privileges committee, previously told parliament the haka forced the Speaker to suspend proceedings for 30 minutes and that no permission had been sought to perform it. "It's not about the haka ... it is about following the rules of parliament that we are all obliged to follow and that we all pledged to follow," Collins said. The Labour party called for a compromise and proposed censure instead of suspension. The Treaty Principles Bill was a reform championed by the right-wing ACT Party to redefine the Treaty of Waitangi in law, stripping rights given to Māori at New Zealand's foundation. While the bill generated unprecedented protests across New Zealand, including tens of thousands marching on parliament, it did not become law. The National party, led by Prime Minister Chris Luxon, agreed only to introduce the law - but not pass it - as part of a coalition agreement with the ACT party that allowed it to form government. After months of public consultation and nationwide backlash, National and NZ First, abandoned their support. with AAP and Reuters
Toronto Star
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
New Zealand Parliament suspends 3 Māori Party lawmakers for haka protest
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand legislators voted Thursday to enact record suspensions from Parliament for three lawmakers who performed a Māori haka to protest a proposed law. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke received a seven-day ban and the leaders of her political party, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, were barred for 21 days. Three days had been the longest ban for a lawmaker from New Zealand's Parliament before.
AsiaOne
10 hours ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
New Zealand parliament confirms unprecedented lengthy suspension of Indigenous lawmakers, World News
WELLINGTON — New Zealand's parliament agreed on historically lengthy suspensions for three Indigenous lawmakers who last year performed a haka, a traditional Maori dance, disrupting the reading of a controversial bill. A parliamentary privileges committee in May recommended the suspension of the three Te Pati Maori parliamentarians for acting in "a manner that could have the effect of intimidating a member of the house". The three performed the haka last November ahead of a vote on a controversial bill that would have reinterpreted a 185-year-old treaty between the British and Indigenous Maori that still guides the country's policy and legislation. The government voted through the suspensions, which will see Te Pati Maori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi stood down from parliament for 21 days, and representative Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke for seven days. While the members are suspended, they will not be paid or be able to vote on legislation. Suspending lawmakers is rare in New Zealand's parliament with only three members suspended in the past 10 years, according to New Zealand parliamentary services. Before Thursday (June 5), the longest suspension was for three days, according to New Zealand representatives who spoke earlier in the day. Maipi-Clarke told parliament ahead of the vote that the suspension was an effort to stop Maori from making themselves heard in parliament. "Are our voices too loud for this house? Is that the reason why we are being silenced? Are our voices shaking the core foundation of this house? The house we had no voice in building… We will never be silenced and we will never be lost," she said. Judith Collins, who heads the privileges committee and serves as attorney-general, had previously told parliament that the haka forced the speaker to suspend proceedings for 30 minutes and that no permission had been sought to perform it. "It's not about the haka ... it is about following the rules of parliament that we are all obliged to follow and that we all pledged to follow," Collins said. The opposition Labour party called for a compromise and proposed censure instead of suspension. Labour considers the suspension to be "inconsistent with the fundamental nature of this democracy," Labour parliamentarian Duncan Webb said on Thursday. "This decision is wildly out of step with any other decision of the privileges committee," said Webb. The haka was traditionally a way for Maori to welcome visiting tribes or to invigorate warriors ahead of battle. It is now performed at important events as well as ahead of matches by New Zealand's rugby teams. [[nid:718207]]
