In a powerful and emotional demonstration, Māori lawmakers in New Zealand used the traditional haka to protest a proposed bill that could significantly alter the interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi, the country’s founding document. The protest disrupted proceedings in Parliament on Thursday, as opposition MPs voiced their outrage over the bill, which they believe threatens the rights of Māori people and undermines decades of efforts to address historical injustices.
Watch this incredible protest as the indigenous Maori MPs perform a haka to disrupt the vote on a bill that seeks to diminish their rights.
— Donna Miles دانا مجاب (@UnPressed) November 14, 2024
Imagine if Western politicians had the same courage to stand up to genocide and shame Israel in similar ways. pic.twitter.com/8GVyX0T5dE
The Context of the Bill: A Challenge to the Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 between more than 500 Māori chiefs and representatives of the British Crown. This landmark agreement laid the foundation for governance in New Zealand and established the relationship between the Indigenous Māori people and the British settlers. The Treaty remains a vital document in New Zealand law, and its interpretation continues to shape the nation’s policies on Māori rights and sovereignty.
Over the years, Māori rights under the Treaty have been progressively extended, particularly through court rulings and the work of the Waitangi Tribunal. These developments have addressed many of the historical wrongs Māori people suffered during colonization. However, there has always been a tension between those who advocate for a broad and inclusive interpretation of the Treaty’s provisions and those who believe that such provisions have led to divisions in New Zealand society.
The recent introduction of the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill by the conservative ACT Party has reignited this debate. The bill aims to enshrine a narrower, more restrictive interpretation of the Treaty into law. The ACT Party argues that this approach would create “equal rights” for all New Zealanders, regardless of ethnicity, and that special provisions for Māori, based on their Indigenous status, have become divisive. For many Māori and their supporters, however, the bill is seen as a direct attack on their rights and an attempt to reverse progress made toward reconciliation and equality.
A Historic Protest: MPs Perform Haka in Parliament
On Thursday, as Parliament began its first reading of the bill, Māori lawmakers from the Te Pāti Māori party staged a dramatic protest. Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, a member of Te Pāti Māori, rose to her feet and, in a symbolic act of defiance, tore up her copy of the proposed legislation. She then began to perform the haka, a traditional Māori war dance that is a potent symbol of resistance, pride, and unity.
The haka, known internationally for its association with New Zealand’s national rugby team, the All Blacks, is a powerful expression of Māori culture and identity. In this context, the performance was not just a protest against the bill but also an assertion of Māori sovereignty and a refusal to allow the Treaty’s interpretation to be narrowed without opposition.
Maipi-Clarke was joined in the protest by other Māori MPs in the opposition, as well as members of the public who were in the gallery watching the proceedings. The scene was charged with emotion as the haka reverberated through the Parliament chamber, briefly drowning out the formal business of the House.
The protest led to a temporary suspension of the parliamentary session, with Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee criticizing the haka as “disrespectful.” However, for many Māori, the protest was an essential and legitimate expression of their anger and fear about the proposed changes to the Treaty’s interpretation.
Public Outrage: Nationwide Protests Against the Bill
The haka in Parliament was just one part of a broader outpouring of public anger against the bill. Across the country, thousands of New Zealanders, many of them Māori, have taken to the streets to express their opposition. This week, a large number of Māori activists and their supporters embarked on a hikoi (a traditional Māori protest march), traveling from the far north of the country to Wellington, the national capital. The march, which will take nine days to complete, has already attracted tens of thousands of participants, many of whom are wearing traditional Māori clothing and chanting in protest.
In Rotorua, a major city on the North Island, an estimated 10,000 people joined the protest, making it one of the largest demonstrations in recent years. As the marchers made their way south, they were met with waves of support from local communities, with many people waving Māori flags and chanting slogans of solidarity.
The hikoi is set to culminate in a mass rally in Wellington next week, where tens of thousands of people are expected to gather in opposition to the bill. It is clear that the proposed changes to the Treaty have struck a nerve within Māori communities and have sparked a broader conversation about racial equality, Indigenous rights, and the future of New Zealand’s social fabric.
Political Reactions: Coalition Divided
The bill has caused significant divisions within the governing coalition. The ACT Party, led by David Seymour, is the primary proponent of the legislation, but it has faced criticism from other members of the ruling coalition, including the National Party. Although the National Party initially agreed to support the bill as part of their coalition agreement with ACT, many party leaders, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, have distanced themselves from the bill’s more controversial provisions.
Luxon, who has expressed concerns about the potential for the bill to damage race relations in New Zealand, has stated that he intends to vote against the bill in its second reading, effectively preventing it from becoming law. His comments suggest that, despite its passing in the first reading, the bill is unlikely to progress any further.
In response to the protests, ACT Party leader David Seymour has argued that those opposed to the bill are trying to “stir up fear and division.” He maintains that the legislation is about ensuring that all New Zealanders are treated equally and that the country should move past policies that single out people based on their ethnicity.
However, for Māori lawmakers and their supporters, the bill represents a significant setback in the ongoing struggle for recognition, justice, and equality. As protests continue to build, it remains to be seen whether the bill will ultimately be defeated or whether it will push the debate on Indigenous rights in New Zealand into even more contentious territory.
A Defining Moment for New Zealand
The haka performed in Parliament and the mass protests across the country mark a pivotal moment in New Zealand’s ongoing dialogue about race, reconciliation, and Indigenous rights. The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill has ignited deep divisions, but it has also galvanized Māori communities and their allies in a powerful display of cultural pride and resistance. As the political battle over the bill continues, it is clear that the Treaty of Waitangi will remain at the heart of New Zealand’s national identity and its ongoing struggle for social justice.
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