New Zealand Lawmakers Suspended After Parliamentary Haka

Three lawmakers from New Zealand, known for performing a haka in Parliament, are facing temporary suspension—deemed the most severe penalty for lawmakers.

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, co-leaders of the Māori Party, along with the party’s youngest member, Hana Rauhiti Maipi Clark, showcased the traditional Māori dance during a vote on the Principles of the Contrasted Treaty bill last November.

A video of the haka, featuring Maipi-Clarke tearing a copy of the bill, quickly went viral, amassing hundreds of millions of views globally.

The Treaty Principles Bill, signed in 1840, aimed to reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangi—a foundational document for New Zealand that recognizes the rights of Māori people in relation to the British Crown. Its introduction by a minor libertarian law party raised alarms about potentially reversing decades of advancements for Māori rights, triggering the largest protests seen for this cause.

Ultimately, the bill was defeated in April during its second reading.

A report made public on Wednesday, endorsed by the Privileges Commission, outlined the suspensions: Ngarewa-Packer and Waititi for three weeks, while Maipi-Clarke received a seven-day suspension. The report highlighted that their actions posed threats to other lawmakers and disrupted the parliamentary process.

While haka has been performed in Congress before, including by Waititi, the committee emphasized that the manner and timing of this particular haka impeded other members’ ability to vote—a significant concern.

“We recognize the severity of the proposed penalty but want to stress that such behavior is unacceptable,” the report indicated.

Specific actions came under scrutiny, notably Ngarewa-Packer allegedly pretending to shoot at another lawmaker. She disputed this interpretation, stating it was meant as a “Wiri” gesture linked to haka and Māori oratory.

Judith Collins, the Attorney General and Committee Chair, remarked that this was the harshest punishment the committee had ever imposed, calling it “the worst case we’ve ever seen.”

“This was a serious incident—a first in my 23 years of experience in the discussion room,” she added.

A formal vote to confirm the suspensions is expected during the lawmakers’ session on Tuesday. During this period, the three will not receive their salaries, including during the annual budget debate next week.

In response, Te Pāti Māori decried the suspensions as “the worst punishment ever.” They stated, “Tangata whenua [people of the land] resist; colonial power reaches its highest penalty. This is a warning shot for all of us.”

The opposition Labour party acknowledged that the lawmakers’ actions did disrupt the House, but argued that the punishment was too severe, suggesting a one- or two-day suspension would suffice.

The Green Party opposed the suspension, labeling it “totally unbalanced” and expressing concern that Te Pāti Māori voters would not have their voices represented in Parliament during the budget session.

The report also included statements from the three lawmakers supporting the haka as justified, with Ngarewa-Packer stating, “In the context of discussing our rights as Tangata whenua, haka was the only way to convey the harm done to countless people.”