Three Members of Parliament from Te Pāti Māori have been suspended after performing a haka in Parliament during a debate last year.
The Privileges Committee decided that the MPs’ actions could have intimidated others in the House. Co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer were suspended for 21 days, while Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke was suspended for 7 days.
The haka took place during the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill, which was later voted down. The committee said the MPs’ behaviour was unacceptable, especially after Ngarewa-Packer was seen pretending to fire a gun at another MP. Chairperson Judith Collins said the issue was about following Parliament’s rules, not about culture or the Treaty of Waitangi.
The MPs did not attend the committee’s hearings at first, saying they were denied legal support and not allowed to appear together. Their suspension means they will miss important debates, including the national Budget, and they will not be paid during this time.
Te Pāti Māori disagreed strongly with the decision. They called it unfair and said it silenced Māori voices. The party said it was the longest suspension ever seen in New Zealand’s Parliament.
Other political parties had mixed views. Labour agreed there was wrongdoing but said the punishment was too harsh. The Green Party said the decision was unfair and over the top.
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