New Zealand MPs who performed haka in parliament given record suspensions
GuardianMAY 27
New Zealand: Māori MPs Suspended for Haka Protest
Above: Debbie Ngarewa-Packer (L) and Rawiri Waititi at Parliament on Jan. 28, 2025, in Wellington, New Zealand. Image copyright: Hagen Hopkins/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
The suspended lawmakers flagrantly violated parliamentary procedure by storming across the chamber floor during official proceedings without permission. This wasn't about suppressing Māori culture but about maintaining order and preventing intimidation of other members. Parliament has rules that everyone must follow regardless of their heritage, and allowing such disruptive behavior sets a dangerous precedent for future proceedings.
Opposition narrative
This disproportionate punishment is a systematic attack on Māori voices and culture in parliament, and the government is using its majority to silence Indigenous representatives who dared to stand up for their people's rights. The haka is a sacred cultural expression that has been welcomed in parliament before, and these MPs are being treated far more harshly than previous disruptive lawmakers simply because they are Māori defending their ancestral treaty.