New Zealand, like many places that were colonized, is going through a moment of political conflict with regards to indigenous rights. And some of the country's Māori lawmakers knew just how to handle it in a recent parliamentary session.
During discussions of proposed legislation—The Treaty Principles Bill—that critics say would significantly infringe on indigenous land and cultural rights, legislator Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke led her fellow lawmakers in a haka, a traditional Māori ceremonial dance.
The moment happened after Maipi-Clarke of the country's Māori Party of Aotearoa (New Zealand) was asked how she and her party intended to vote on the bill. In response, she tore up a copy of the bill and launched into the dance in a powerful moment that has left progressives worldwide cheering.
The moment quickly reached a fever pitch as members of Parliament of multiple parties as well as spectators in the chamber's gallery joined in with the chants and movements in a stunning act of solidarity, to the ire of figures like Speaker of the House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee, who rolled his eyes.
Brownlee also retaliated by suspending Maipi-Clarke, who at 22 is the country's youngest-ever Member of Parliament, for the rest of the day.
Maipi-Clarke's haka comes amid waves of protest throughout New Zealand over the bill, which seeks to eliminate land use laws, government seats, health care provisions and cultural preservation rules under the Treaty of Waitangi.
That treaty was signed in 1840 by more than 500 Māori leaders, and its provisions were an exchange for allowing British colonists to govern.
The new legislation, The Treaty Principles Bill, seeks to reinterpret the provisions of the Treaty of Waitangi. It is not expected to pass, but has sparked outrage across New Zealand, including a nine-day march expected to culminate Tuesday in the capital of Wellington.
On social media, many were deeply inspired by Maipi-Clarke and the haka protest she led, especially in these times of creeping fascism worldwide.
The Māori people in New Zealand have lit the spark of revolution felt around the world
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— The Serfs (@theserfstv.bsky.social) November 15, 2024 at 5:58 PM
personally I support Māori women's right to be as mean as they want
— 🔻Bill Kezos🇵🇸🇱🇧🇾🇪🔻 (@billkezos.bsky.social) November 18, 2024 at 10:01 AM
New Zealand’s parliament was disrupted by Māori members staging a Haka during a contentious vote over the reinterpretation of a 184-year-old treaty between the British and Indigenous Māori. Simply superb scenes.
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— HLTCO (@hltco.bsky.social) November 15, 2024 at 10:43 AM
In these times of ascendant fascism, Maipi-Clarke's deeply affecting spectacle is the blueprint for resistance.
May we all learn to follow her lead.
