New Zealand MPs who performed haka in parliament given unprecedented punishment
Guardian2 days
New Zealand Parliament Suspends Māori MPs Over Haka
Above: Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke and Eru Kapa-Kingi lead a Haka on the Parliament Grounds on Nov. 19, 2024 in Wellington, New Zealand. Image copyright: Joe Allison/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
These MPs desecrated parliamentary sanctity, weaponizing a cultural tradition to intimidate fellow lawmakers during a democratic vote. Their theatrical disruption, complete with threatening gestures, mocked parliamentary decorum and brazenly obstructed the legislative process, earning them justified suspensions for violating the sacred principles of orderly governance.
Establishment-critical narrative
In an unconscionable display of colonial power, Te Pāti Māori MPs face unprecedented suspensions for their sacred Haka — a legitimate cultural expression against legislation threatening their ancestral treaty rights. While a Labour MP escaped punishment for identical actions, Indigenous representatives are severely penalized for defending their heritage within democracy's supposed sanctuary.