NZ Suspends Māori MPs After Haka, Bill Defeated

New Zealand's parliament imposed record-breaking suspensions on three Te Pāti Māori MPs—co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer (21 days each) and Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke (seven days)—after they performed a haka protest and Maipi-Clarke ripped up the bill on the chamber floor. The protest targeted a controversial bill aiming to redefine the Treaty of Waitangi, which was later defeated following widespread public opposition. A parliamentary committee ruled the MPs' actions as potentially intimidating, while the suspended MPs argued they were defending Indigenous rights and Māori voices. The suspensions far exceeded previous records and sparked debate on the treatment of Māori culture and free expression in parliament. Supporters and the MPs cited attempts to silence Māori perspectives and noted perceived double standards, while government officials stated the penalties were about procedure, not cultural expression. The incident has attracted international attention to ongoing issues of Indigenous rights and cultural recognition in New Zealand politics.