NZ MPs’ Haka Protest Leads to Unprecedented Suspensions
Three New Zealand MPs from Te Pāti Māori were recommended for suspension following a haka performance during a parliamentary vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. The unprecedented penalties—three weeks for two MPs and seven days for the third—stem from the committee’s determination that the actions constituted intimidation and contempt of parliament. The haka, which included the symbolic destruction of the bill, was deemed unacceptable due to its timing and disruptive nature, despite acknowledging past haka performances in parliament. While the MPs argued the haka was a justified response to the bill, the committee and the attorney-general characterized the incident as the most serious ever witnessed.
John Q. Hosedrinker