New Zealand’s parliament faced a brief interruption when MPs and members of the public gallery unexpectedly performed a haka, a traditional Maori dance. The impromptu celebration followed the inaugural speech by Te Pati Maori MP, Oriini Kaipara, on Thursday.
Kaipara, who entered parliament in September to fill a vacant position, concluded her speech to the House before engaging in the haka along with others. House Speaker Gerry Brownlee intervened, expressing surprise at the unauthorized display and temporarily halting proceedings. He had previously indicated that such a performance was not approved for that session.
Although the participants had planned and rehearsed the haka, parliamentary regulations require formal authorization for such displays in the public gallery. Parliament resumed after the interruption, with Brownlee announcing an investigation into any prior knowledge or involvement of political parties or MPs in the incident, labeling the gallery’s actions as disrespectful.
This incident is not the first time a haka has made headlines. In a previous occurrence, Hana-Rawhiti Kareariki Maipi-Clarke, the youngest MP in New Zealand, delivered a protest haka while tearing up a copy of the Treaty Principles Bill. The controversial bill aimed to reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangi, a historic agreement defining the rights of Maori and non-Maori in the nation since its signing in 1840.
In a separate event in June, three Te Pati Maori MPs faced suspension for a similar performance. Despite the attention garnered by the haka, the contentious bill failed to be enacted into law.
The haka, characterized by synchronized chanting, vigorous movements, and intense facial expressions, is a customary group performance in Maori culture, typically employed to mark significant events or occasions, such as welcoming visitors or preceding sports competitions.
Maori people constitute approximately 17.4% of New Zealand’s population, amounting to 922,800 individuals, as reported by Stats NZ, the country’s official statistics agency. Data also reveals that many Maori encounter disparities compared to the general populace, particularly in areas like health and education.