Māori Lawmakers Perform Powerful Haka to Protest NZ Parliament Bill That Redefines Indigenous Rights
Originally published by Regina Sienra and Pinar Noorata for My Modern Met
A moment of defiance took place at the New Zealand Parliament, and quickly made headlines around the world. Māori lawmaker Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke performed a haka to protest a controversial bill that seeks to reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangi, a 184-year-old founding document of New Zealand. The project has sparked worries among Indigenous communities for what it could mean for their rights.
Maipi-Clarke first attracted attention as the youngest Member of the New Zealand Parliament since 1853, being sworn in at the age of 21. She also performed a haka during her maiden speech, in which she vowed to protect and support Māori youth. Maipi-Clarke has represented the Te Pāti Māori, a political party that advocates for Māori rights, since winning her place in the 2023 New Zealand general election. Now, the young politician seeks to uphold and protect the rights granted to Indigenous communities nearly two centuries ago.
The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and more than 500 Māori chiefs. It lays out how the two parties agreed to govern, and its values have been woven into New Zealand’s laws in an effort to make up for the wrong done to the Māori during British colonization. The document has made way for initiatives that expand Indigenous rights, such as making Māori an official language and guaranteeing representation in central and local government.
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