Insults, anger and a haka in New Zealand parliament as MPs debate bill on Māori rights
Guardian1 day
Māori Haka Protest Against Treaty Bill in NZ Parliament, March to Capital Continues
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Above: Thousands of marchers protesting Government policies affecting Māori, cross the Auckland Harbour Bridge on day three of a nine-day journey to Wellington on Nov. 13, 2024 in Auckland, New Zealand. Image copyright: Phil Walter/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Māori members of New Zealand's parliament and people in the gallery have staged a haka — a traditional Māori dance — to protest against a bill that would narrow the interpretation of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi between Māori chiefs and the British Crown.
The incident took place on Thursday as lawmakers were in session to vote on the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill, causing parliament to be briefly suspended.
The Spin
Left narrative
As pro-Māori protesters continue to march to Wellington, their representatives in parliament delivered a powerful and historic message in defiance of an outrageous attempt to erase Māori rights enshrined in New Zealand's founding document. This is an illegitimate bill that hopefully will fail its second reading.
Right narrative
Māori lawmakers turned New Zealand parliament into a circus with their premeditated and theatrical performance, scoring a political win against the Labour Party and dimming their hopes to regain Māori seats. Though all this mess effectively helps the right-wing, it was a sad day for Parliament and decorum.
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