New Zealand’s parliamentary session came to a brief halt on Thursday after people in the public gallery broke into an unsanctioned haka, a traditional Māori dance, moments after the newest Māori Party lawmaker, Oriini Kaipara, delivered her maiden speech.
The spontaneous performance erupted after Kaipara’s address, leading Speaker Gerry Brownlee to suspend proceedings temporarily. The incident, captured on video, quickly went viral on social media, reigniting debate over cultural expression and parliamentary protocol.
Kaipara, who joined Parliament in September to fill a vacant seat, received a warm welcome from MPs across the political spectrum. Following her speech, lawmakers and attendees performed a pre-approved Māori song in celebration. However, the situation took an unexpected turn when spectators in the gallery began an impromptu haka, joined by some MPs, without prior authorization.
Speaker intervenes as Haka interrupts the session
Speaker Brownlee immediately called for order. “No, not that. The guarantee was that it would not be taking place,” he said, halting the performance. When the haka continued, Brownlee suspended the session.
Under New Zealand’s parliamentary rules, both MPs and supporters must obtain permission before performing songs or haka inside the chamber or public gallery. Brownlee later stated that an investigation would determine whether any MPs or parties had advance knowledge of the unsanctioned act, describing it as “contemptuous,” according to Reuters.
Cultural symbolism and political tensions
The Māori Party, also known as Te Pāti Māori, has long employed symbolic acts, such as the haka, to assert Māori pride and challenge colonial traditions within New Zealand’s governance system.
Nearly a year earlier, Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Kareariki Maipi-Clarke performed a haka on the House floor while tearing a copy of the controversial Indigenous Treaty Principles Bill.
In June, three Māori Party members were handed unprecedented suspensions for staging a haka during a heated debate on legislation seeking to reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangi, a 184-year-old agreement between the British Crown and the Māori people. That bill ultimately failed to pass.
The Haka’s enduring significance
Traditionally performed by Māori warriors before battle or to welcome visiting tribes, the haka has evolved into a powerful expression of Māori identity and New Zealand’s cultural heritage. Today, it is recognized globally and often showcased at national events and sporting arenas, most famously by the All Blacks, New Zealand’s rugby team.
The latest parliamentary haka has once again highlighted the delicate balance between cultural celebration and adherence to formal parliamentary rules, a reflection of New Zealand’s ongoing conversation about Indigenous representation and respect within its political institutions.
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