New Zealand Suspends Māori Party MPs Over Haka Protest in Parliament

Report by Safarti Tarjuman International Desk

Three Te Pāti Māori Members of Parliament have received unprecedented suspensions following their dramatic haka protest in New Zealand’s House of Representatives during a vote on the contentious Treaty Principles Bill.

Co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi have each been suspended for three weeks, while the youngest member, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, will serve a seven-day suspension. During this period, all three will forfeit their salaries and be barred from participating in parliamentary activities, including the upcoming national budget debate.

The protest, which took place during the bill’s first reading in November, featured a traditional Māori haka. In a powerful act of resistance, Maipi-Clarke tore up a printed copy of the bill. The footage quickly gained international attention, amassing hundreds of millions of views online.

The proposed legislation, backed by the coalition’s minor partner the ACT Party, aimed to redefine the Treaty of Waitangi—New Zealand’s foundational agreement signed in 1840 between Māori iwi (tribes) and the British Crown. Critics warned the bill would undermine Māori rights and reverse decades of progress in indigenous recognition. Public backlash was immense, leading to one of the largest nationwide protests for Māori rights in history. The bill was defeated during its second reading in April.

A report issued Wednesday by the privileges committee declared the MPs’ conduct as a serious breach of parliamentary rules. It stated that the haka disrupted the voting process and could be seen as an attempt to intimidate other lawmakers. The report described the event as “contempt of Parliament” and emphasized the need to uphold the integrity of legislative proceedings.

The committee further criticized Ngarewa-Packer for making what appeared to be a firearm gesture toward another MP. Ngarewa-Packer rejected this claim, clarifying the movement was a “wiri”—a traditional gesture integral to haka and Māori expression.

Judith Collins, chair of the committee and attorney-general, called the protest the most serious incident she has witnessed in her 23-year parliamentary career. “This level of disruption is unprecedented, and the sanctions reflect that,” she said.

Te Pāti Māori condemned the suspensions, labeling them the harshest penalties ever issued to sitting MPs. In a public statement, the party said, “When tangata whenua resist, colonial systems retaliate. This is a clear attempt to silence indigenous voices.”

Opposition parties expressed mixed reactions. The Labour Party agreed that the protest breached rules but considered the penalties too harsh, recommending shorter suspensions. The Green Party opposed the suspensions entirely, calling them “disproportionate” and warning of the consequences of silencing Māori representation during key legislative moments.

In their defense, the suspended MPs maintained their actions were a legitimate cultural response to legislation affecting Māori sovereignty. “When our people are under attack, haka is how we speak. It is our voice,” said Ngarewa-Packer in her statement.

A final vote on the recommended suspensions is scheduled for Tuesday.