MP Leads Haka in Parliament to Protest Maori Treaty Bill

New Zealand’s parliament was disrupted by a haka on November 14, during the reading of a controversial bill that proposes to alter the way the country’s treaty between the indigenous Maori and the British Crown is interpreted.

A vote on the bill was suspended when opposition parties and people in the public gallery joined in the haka, led by Patri Maori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, who also ripped up a copy of the bill.

The bill has been criticised for challenging principles outlined in New Zealand’s founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi - signed in 1840 between the British Crown and more than 500 Maori chiefs.

The bill later passed its first reading and Maipi-Clarke was suspended, the NZ Herald reported.

Thousands of people have been on a nine-day march towards Wellington in opposition to the bill. Credit: New Zealand Parliament via Storyful

Video transcript

We're in the middle of a vote.

We're in the middle of a vote, Mr Speaker.

I call it a personal vote.

Don't sit down.

We're in the middle of a vote.

I have a party vote has been called for Mr Speaker.

A party vote has been called for.

There's a process here.

New Zealand National, 49 votes in favour New Zealand Labour, 34 votes Opposed Green Party of a New Zealand, 15 votes opposed Act, New Zealand 11 votes in favour New Zealand first Party Maori II I here I I got my new The house is the house is suspended until the ringing of the bells The gallery is to be cleared.

No, we all.

There you go.

The reaction.