Latest news with #MaoriParty
The Advertiser
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Maori Party MP Kemp dies in New Zealand
Maori Party MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp has died in Auckland following a diagnosis of kidney disease. Ms Kemp, first elected in 2023, died in the early hours of Thursday morning according to a party statement which described her colleagues as "heartbroken". "Takutai Moana devoted every breath to the movement for Maori liberation and worked tirelessly to serve her community of Tamaki Makaurau," it read. "As she navigated her health journey, she continued to stand in the House, on our marae, in our communities and she always stood up for our mokopuna. "As a movement, we are devastated by this news. Takutai was more than a colleague to us, she was our sister, and we loved her dearly." TVNZ reported that Ms Kemp was on a waiting list for a replacement kidney following her diagnosis in July 2024, and her death surprised her loved ones. Question Time has been cancelled in parliament on Thursday as a mark of respect. Ms Kemp is the second first-term New Zealand MP to die in this term, following Greens MP Efeso Collins, who died in February 2024 after participating in a charity run. Her death will result in a by-election in the Maori electorate of Tāmaki Makaurau, centred on Auckland, which she won controversially in 2023. The Maori Party claimed the seat from three-term winner Peeni Henare, Labour's defence minister in the last government, by just 42 votes. Prior to her election, Ms Kemp was the chief executive of Manurewa Marae, a hub in southern Auckland, where staff allege data collected from the COVID-19 vaccination rollout and last census was inappropriately siphoned to the Maori Party. Labour - whose leader Chris Hipkins has derided the result as "unfair" - is yet to announce whether it will stand in the by-election, the result of which will be immaterial for the government. Prime Minister Chris Luxon, currently in the Netherlands for the NATO Summit, said he was saddened by the news. "On behalf of the government, our thoughts are with her whanau (family), friends, colleagues, and the Tamaki Makaurau community," he said. Maori Party MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp has died in Auckland following a diagnosis of kidney disease. Ms Kemp, first elected in 2023, died in the early hours of Thursday morning according to a party statement which described her colleagues as "heartbroken". "Takutai Moana devoted every breath to the movement for Maori liberation and worked tirelessly to serve her community of Tamaki Makaurau," it read. "As she navigated her health journey, she continued to stand in the House, on our marae, in our communities and she always stood up for our mokopuna. "As a movement, we are devastated by this news. Takutai was more than a colleague to us, she was our sister, and we loved her dearly." TVNZ reported that Ms Kemp was on a waiting list for a replacement kidney following her diagnosis in July 2024, and her death surprised her loved ones. Question Time has been cancelled in parliament on Thursday as a mark of respect. Ms Kemp is the second first-term New Zealand MP to die in this term, following Greens MP Efeso Collins, who died in February 2024 after participating in a charity run. Her death will result in a by-election in the Maori electorate of Tāmaki Makaurau, centred on Auckland, which she won controversially in 2023. The Maori Party claimed the seat from three-term winner Peeni Henare, Labour's defence minister in the last government, by just 42 votes. Prior to her election, Ms Kemp was the chief executive of Manurewa Marae, a hub in southern Auckland, where staff allege data collected from the COVID-19 vaccination rollout and last census was inappropriately siphoned to the Maori Party. Labour - whose leader Chris Hipkins has derided the result as "unfair" - is yet to announce whether it will stand in the by-election, the result of which will be immaterial for the government. Prime Minister Chris Luxon, currently in the Netherlands for the NATO Summit, said he was saddened by the news. "On behalf of the government, our thoughts are with her whanau (family), friends, colleagues, and the Tamaki Makaurau community," he said. Maori Party MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp has died in Auckland following a diagnosis of kidney disease. Ms Kemp, first elected in 2023, died in the early hours of Thursday morning according to a party statement which described her colleagues as "heartbroken". "Takutai Moana devoted every breath to the movement for Maori liberation and worked tirelessly to serve her community of Tamaki Makaurau," it read. "As she navigated her health journey, she continued to stand in the House, on our marae, in our communities and she always stood up for our mokopuna. "As a movement, we are devastated by this news. Takutai was more than a colleague to us, she was our sister, and we loved her dearly." TVNZ reported that Ms Kemp was on a waiting list for a replacement kidney following her diagnosis in July 2024, and her death surprised her loved ones. Question Time has been cancelled in parliament on Thursday as a mark of respect. Ms Kemp is the second first-term New Zealand MP to die in this term, following Greens MP Efeso Collins, who died in February 2024 after participating in a charity run. Her death will result in a by-election in the Maori electorate of Tāmaki Makaurau, centred on Auckland, which she won controversially in 2023. The Maori Party claimed the seat from three-term winner Peeni Henare, Labour's defence minister in the last government, by just 42 votes. Prior to her election, Ms Kemp was the chief executive of Manurewa Marae, a hub in southern Auckland, where staff allege data collected from the COVID-19 vaccination rollout and last census was inappropriately siphoned to the Maori Party. Labour - whose leader Chris Hipkins has derided the result as "unfair" - is yet to announce whether it will stand in the by-election, the result of which will be immaterial for the government. Prime Minister Chris Luxon, currently in the Netherlands for the NATO Summit, said he was saddened by the news. "On behalf of the government, our thoughts are with her whanau (family), friends, colleagues, and the Tamaki Makaurau community," he said. Maori Party MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp has died in Auckland following a diagnosis of kidney disease. Ms Kemp, first elected in 2023, died in the early hours of Thursday morning according to a party statement which described her colleagues as "heartbroken". "Takutai Moana devoted every breath to the movement for Maori liberation and worked tirelessly to serve her community of Tamaki Makaurau," it read. "As she navigated her health journey, she continued to stand in the House, on our marae, in our communities and she always stood up for our mokopuna. "As a movement, we are devastated by this news. Takutai was more than a colleague to us, she was our sister, and we loved her dearly." TVNZ reported that Ms Kemp was on a waiting list for a replacement kidney following her diagnosis in July 2024, and her death surprised her loved ones. Question Time has been cancelled in parliament on Thursday as a mark of respect. Ms Kemp is the second first-term New Zealand MP to die in this term, following Greens MP Efeso Collins, who died in February 2024 after participating in a charity run. Her death will result in a by-election in the Maori electorate of Tāmaki Makaurau, centred on Auckland, which she won controversially in 2023. The Maori Party claimed the seat from three-term winner Peeni Henare, Labour's defence minister in the last government, by just 42 votes. Prior to her election, Ms Kemp was the chief executive of Manurewa Marae, a hub in southern Auckland, where staff allege data collected from the COVID-19 vaccination rollout and last census was inappropriately siphoned to the Maori Party. Labour - whose leader Chris Hipkins has derided the result as "unfair" - is yet to announce whether it will stand in the by-election, the result of which will be immaterial for the government. Prime Minister Chris Luxon, currently in the Netherlands for the NATO Summit, said he was saddened by the news. "On behalf of the government, our thoughts are with her whanau (family), friends, colleagues, and the Tamaki Makaurau community," he said.
Perth Now
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Maori Party MP Kemp dies in New Zealand
Maori Party MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp has died in Auckland following a diagnosis of kidney disease. Ms Kemp, first elected in 2023, died in the early hours of Thursday morning according to a party statement which described her colleagues as "heartbroken". "Takutai Moana devoted every breath to the movement for Maori liberation and worked tirelessly to serve her community of Tamaki Makaurau," it read. "As she navigated her health journey, she continued to stand in the House, on our marae, in our communities and she always stood up for our mokopuna. "As a movement, we are devastated by this news. Takutai was more than a colleague to us, she was our sister, and we loved her dearly." TVNZ reported that Ms Kemp was on a waiting list for a replacement kidney following her diagnosis in July 2024, and her death surprised her loved ones. Question Time has been cancelled in parliament on Thursday as a mark of respect. Ms Kemp is the second first-term New Zealand MP to die in this term, following Greens MP Efeso Collins, who died in February 2024 after participating in a charity run. Her death will result in a by-election in the Maori electorate of Tāmaki Makaurau, centred on Auckland, which she won controversially in 2023. The Maori Party claimed the seat from three-term winner Peeni Henare, Labour's defence minister in the last government, by just 42 votes. Prior to her election, Ms Kemp was the chief executive of Manurewa Marae, a hub in southern Auckland, where staff allege data collected from the COVID-19 vaccination rollout and last census was inappropriately siphoned to the Maori Party. Labour - whose leader Chris Hipkins has derided the result as "unfair" - is yet to announce whether it will stand in the by-election, the result of which will be immaterial for the government. Prime Minister Chris Luxon, currently in the Netherlands for the NATO Summit, said he was saddened by the news. "On behalf of the government, our thoughts are with her whanau (family), friends, colleagues, and the Tamaki Makaurau community," he said.
Al Jazeera
05-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Al Jazeera
New Zeland Maori MPs suspended for parliamentary haka protest
NewsFeed New Zeland Maori MPs suspended for parliamentary haka protest Three Maori Party MPs were suspended from New Zealand's Parliament for performing a haka in protest of a bill backed by a far-right coalition partner that they say was an attack on Indigenous people. The bill was defeated, but tensions remain high.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maori MPs suspended for performing haka in parliament
Three Maori MPs have been suspended from New Zealand's parliament for performing a haka during a sitting last year. On Thursday, the legislature voted to ban Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, the Maori Party co-leaders, for a record 21 days. Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, the Maori Party MP who started the dance, was handed a seven-day suspension. Mr Waititi said the suspension was a reminder of the 'silencing' of his ancestors. He said on Thursday: 'In my maiden speech, I talked about one of our (ancestors) who was hung in the gallows of Mt Eden Prison, wrongfully accused. 'The silencing of us today is a reminder of the silencing of our ancestors of the past, and it continues to happen. Now you've traded the noose for legislation. Well, we will not be silenced.' The MPs did the haka in November as a protest after being asked if their party supported a Bill that sought to redefine New Zealand's founding treaty with the Maori people. Although performed on many different occasions, haka are often used as a kind of ceremonial war dance or challenge to authority. Winston Peters, New Zealand's foreign affairs minister, mocked Mr Waititi in the chamber on Thursday for his traditional full-face Maori tattoo. Mr Peters, who is also Maori, said: 'The Maori Party are a bunch of extremists, and middle New Zealand and the Maori world has had enough of them. 'The one that's shouting down there, with the scribbles on his face... can't keep quiet for five seconds.' Ms Maipi-Clarke, 22, sparked the controversy as parliament considered the highly contentious Treaty Principles Bill last November. In footage widely shared around the world, she rose to her feet, ripped up the Bill and started belting out the strains of a protest haka. She was joined by Mr Waititi and Ms Ngarewa-Packer, who strode on to the chamber floor chanting the Ka Mate haka, which is often performed by the country's All Blacks rugby team. Credit: X/@Maori_Party Ms Ngarewa-Packer was also accused of pointing her fingers in the shape of a gun at David Seymour, the leader of the Right-wing ACT Party, who had proposed the Bill. The trio were hauled before the parliament's privileges committee but refused to take part in the hearing. Supported by New Zealand's three governing coalition parties, the bans were voted on and accepted on Thursday. Ms Maipi-Clarke vowed that Maori would not be silenced, saying: 'A member can swear at another member, a member of Cabinet can lay their hands on a staff member, a member can drive up the steps of parliament, a member can swear in parliament, and yet they weren't given five minutes of suspension. 'Yet when we stand up for the country's foundational document, we get punished with the most severe consequences.' The Treaty Principles Bill sought to reinterpret New Zealand's founding document, signed between Maori chiefs and British representatives in 1840. Many critics saw the Bill as an attempt to wind back the special rights given to the country's 900,000-strong Maori population. Its proponents argued that the current principles of the 1840 Bill have distorted its original intent, resulting in Maori now having more rights than non-Maori. Parliament resoundingly voted down the Bill in April. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Maori MPs suspended for performing haka in parliament
Three Maori MPs have been suspended from New Zealand's parliament for performing a haka during a sitting last year. On Thursday, the legislature voted to ban Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, the Maori Party co-leaders, for a record 21 days. Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, the Maori Party MP who started the dance, was handed a seven-day suspension. Mr Waititi said the suspension was a reminder of the 'silencing' of his ancestors. He said on Thursday: 'In my maiden speech, I talked about one of our (ancestors) who was hung in the gallows of Mt Eden Prison, wrongfully accused. 'The silencing of us today is a reminder of the silencing of our ancestors of the past, and it continues to happen. Now you've traded the noose for legislation. Well, we will not be silenced.' The MPs did the haka in November as a protest after being asked if their party supported a Bill that sought to redefine New Zealand's founding treaty with the Maori people. Although performed on many different occasions, haka are often used as a kind of ceremonial war dance or challenge to authority. 'Bunch of extremists' Winston Peters, New Zealand's foreign affairs minister, mocked Mr Waititi in the chamber on Thursday for his traditional full-face Maori tattoo. Mr Peters, who is also Maori, said: 'The Maori Party are a bunch of extremists, and middle New Zealand and the Maori world has had enough of them. 'The one that's shouting down there, with the scribbles on his face... can't keep quiet for five seconds.' Ms Maipi-Clarke, 22, sparked the controversy as parliament considered the highly contentious Treaty Principles Bill last November. In footage widely shared around the world, she rose to her feet, ripped up the Bill and started belting out the strains of a protest haka. She was joined by Mr Waititi and Ms Ngarewa-Packer, who strode on to the chamber floor chanting the Ka Mate haka, which is often performed by the country's All Blacks rugby team. Ms Ngarewa-Packer was also accused of pointing her fingers in the shape of a gun at David Seymour, the leader of the Right-wing ACT Party, who had proposed the Bill. The trio were hauled before the parliament's privileges committee but refused to take part in the hearing. Supported by New Zealand's three governing coalition parties, the bans were voted on and accepted on Thursday. Ms Maipi-Clarke vowed that Maori would not be silenced, saying: 'A member can swear at another member, a member of Cabinet can lay their hands on a staff member, a member can drive up the steps of parliament, a member can swear in parliament, and yet they weren't given five minutes of suspension. 'Yet when we stand up for the country's foundational document, we get punished with the most severe consequences.' The Treaty Principles Bill sought to reinterpret New Zealand's founding document, signed between Maori chiefs and British representatives in 1840. Many critics saw the Bill as an attempt to wind back the special rights given to the country's 900,000-strong Maori population. Its proponents argued that the current principles of the 1840 Bill have distorted its original intent, resulting in Maori now having more rights than non-Maori. Parliament resoundingly voted down the Bill in April.
