Archive · 5 Jun 2025
NZ Parliament Suspends Lawmakers Over Protest Haka
Three lawmakers in New Zealand were punished for doing a haka, a traditional Māori dance, in Parliament to protest a bill.
The leaders of their political party got longer suspensions than the other lawmaker.
The lawmakers were protesting a law they believed would hurt the rights of the Māori people.
There was debate about how harsh the punishment should be, with some people saying it was too severe.
The government parties had enough votes to approve the suspensions despite the debate.
New Zealand Parliament voted to suspend three lawmakers for performing a haka.
The haka was performed in protest of a proposed bill related to Indigenous rights.
Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke received a seven-day ban.
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi were banned for 21 days.
The suspensions were enacted after a debate among lawmakers.
- Who
- Three lawmakers from Te Pāti Māori
- What
- New Zealand legislators voted to enact record suspensions for three lawmakers who performed a Māori haka.
- When
- Thursday (June 5, 2025)
- Where
- New Zealand Parliament
- Why
- The lawmakers performed the haka to oppose a bill they said would reverse Indigenous rights.
Te Pāti Māori and Supporters
Government Parties
Reason for Punishment
Te Pāti Māori and Supporters
Maipi-Clarke cited other instances where legislators have left their seats and approached their opponents without sanction, rejecting the reason for the punishment.
Government Parties
The lawmakers were not being punished for the haka itself, but for striding across the floor of the debating chamber towards their opponents while they did it.
- Lawmakers Suspended
- Three
- Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke's Ban
- 7 days
- Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi's Ban
- 21 days
- Reason for Haka
- Opposing a bill reversing Indigenous rights
- Date of Vote
- June 5, 2025
