New Zealand’s youngest Member of Parliament, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, has once again captured national and international attention. The 22-year-old Te Pāti Maori MP staged a powerful protest against the contentious Treaty Principles Bill, by performing haka and tearing up a copy of the proposed legislation during a heated session in Parliament.
Hana Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, the woman that you are 🖤🤍❤️ pic.twitter.com/wtf0pgjUnc
— 🫶🏽🤎 (@wateryonce) November 14, 2024
The incident unfolded as the bill, introduced by the ACT New Zealand party, was being debated. Maipi-Clarke interrupted the session by ripping up the document, symbolising her rejection of the legislation, and performed a traditional haka.
The act sparked a wave of support from the public gallery, with onlookers joining her in the protest. The passionate display led to a temporary suspension of the session by Speaker Gerry Brownlee. Maipi-Clarke first rose to prominence in 2023 with her maiden speech in Parliament, where she performed a haka that went viral and cemented her as a strong advocate for Maori rights.
🔥Unprecedented & simply magnificent. That time in Nov 2024 when a haka led by Aotearoa’s youngest MP 22yo Hana-Rawhiti Kareariki Maipi-Clarke erupted in the House stopping the Treaty Principles Bill from passing its first reading, triggering the Speaker to suspend Parliament.… pic.twitter.com/pkI7q7WGlr
— Kelvin Morgan 🇳🇿 (@kelvin_morganNZ) November 14, 2024
At the center of the uproar is the Treaty Principles Bill, introduced by the ACT party, a junior partner in the country’s center-right coalition government. The bill seeks to amend certain principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, a foundational document signed in 1840 between the British Crown and more than 500 Maori chiefs.
ALSO SEE: Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke’s Parliament Haka Breaks The Internet; Global Reactions Pour In
The Treaty of Waitangi remains a cornerstone of New Zealand’s governance, outlining agreements between the Crown and the Maori. However, its interpretation has long been a subject of debate. Critics argue the proposed changes could undermine the rights of Maori, New Zealand’s indigenous people who make up approximately 20 percent of the population.
The proposed legislation has ignited widespread backlash, particularly among Maori communities and their supporters. Opponents see it as a direct threat to Maori sovereignty and their standing in New Zealand society. Recently, hundreds of protesters embarked on a nine-day hikoi (march) from New Zealand’s northern regions to the capital, Wellington.
ALSO SEE: New Zealand Parliament Members Cry Out Against Bill Threatening Maori Communities
(Image: X)
