New Zealand Parliament Suspends Māori Lawmakers for Haka Protest Against Indigenous Rights Bill
Three Māori Party lawmakers were suspended for performing a haka in protest of a bill threatening Indigenous rights, sparking national outrage and debate.
BBC NewsNew Zealand: Three Maori MPs suspended over 'intimidating' haka
ABC NewsNew Zealand Parliament suspends 3 Māori Party lawmakers for haka protest
The GuardianNew Zealand MPs who performed haka in parliament given record suspensions
Al JazeeraNew Zealand parliament suspends Maori MPs who performed protest haka
Overview
Three Māori lawmakers, including party leader Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, were suspended for 7 to 21 days for performing a haka in Parliament.
The protest was against a proposed law that critics argue threatens Indigenous rights and the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
The suspensions are the longest recorded for such actions in New Zealand's Parliament, highlighting tensions over Indigenous rights.
Over 40,000 people protested outside Parliament against the bill, reflecting widespread public concern about the erosion of Māori rights.
Lawmakers are now urging a review of parliamentary rules to better accommodate Māori cultural expressions as legitimate forms of protest.