The proceedings at the New Zealand Parliament halted on Thursday as its 22-year-old MP Hana Rawhiti Maipi- Clarke and others showed indiscipled behaviour. Despite this unpleasant behaviour, Maipi won hearts of millions of inhabitants of New Zealand by performing the traditional Haka dance.
The spokesperson of Te Pati Maori, she at first tore a copy of the controversial Treaty Principles Bill and after that performed Haka dance in the Parliament to show resentment to the Bill which led Speaker Gerry Brownlee to halt the proceedings. While she danced, few others also joined to show protest in this unique way.
The proposed Bill that aims to apply principles from the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi was originally aimed to protect Maori land. However, many detractors argue the bill could undermine Maori rights. It is to be noted that Maipi-Clarke was elected to the Parliament in 2023 owing to her active role in the politics, however, her father lost in the 2023 elections. Her maiden speech, where she tore the Bill was accompanied by the Haka performance symbolic of her resistance against the policies of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Though the Bill has limited support and is unlikely to be passed, yet its introduction in the Parliament has sparked an outrage with the MPs joining Clark in the traditional Haka dance performance.
With mounting opposition and growing support for Maipi-Clarke’s leadership, she has emerged as a potential Prime Ministerial candidate, marking a paradigm shift in New Zealand’s political landscape.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Parliament: pic.twitter.com/ocgP7H62ia
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) November 14, 2024