Māori Haka Performed in New Zealand Parliament Amid Treaty Bill Protests

Members of Parliament in New Zealand temporarily paused parliamentary proceedings by performing a haka, expressing discontent regarding a contentious bill aimed at reinterpreting the nation’s foundational treaty with the Māori population. Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, an MP from an opposition party, initiated the traditional ceremonial group dance following an inquiry about her party’s stance on the bill, which underwent its initial vote on Thursday. Concurrently, a hīkoi, defined as a peaceful protest march, organized by a Māori rights organization, is progressing toward Wellington, the capital. Thousands have participated in the nine-day march opposing the bill, which arrived in Auckland on Wednesday after commencing in New Zealand’s far north on Monday. While New Zealand is frequently regarded as a leader in indigenous rights, those opposing the legislation express concern that these very rights are jeopardized by the proposed bill. Act, the political party responsible for introducing the bill, asserts the necessity of legally defining the principles of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, a document central to race relations within New Zealand. The treaty’s fundamental values have progressively been integrated into New Zealand’s legal framework, aiming to rectify historical injustices inflicted upon Māori during the period of colonisation. However, Act—a minor party within the governing centre-right coalition—contends that this integration has led to racial division within the country. The party claims the bill would enable a more equitable interpretation of the treaty via parliament, as opposed to the judiciary. David Seymour, the party’s leader, has characterized opponents as intending to “stir up” fear and division. Conversely, critics assert that the legislation will fragment the nation and result in the erosion of essential support for numerous Māori individuals. The initial reading of the bill was approved on Thursday following a 30-minute recess, with endorsement from all parties in the ruling coalition. Maipi-Clarke received a suspension from the house. The bill is not expected to advance past a second reading, given that Act’s coalition partners have signaled their lack of support. Nevertheless, this development has not assuaged the concerns of those apprehensive about the bill and its consequences, as the hīkoi continues its progression along its 1,000km (621-mile) path. In Auckland, approximately 5,000 participants required two hours to traverse the harbour bridge. The New Zealand Herald reported that officials had closed two lanes to facilitate their movement along the designated route. Danielle Moreau, a Māori individual, walked across the Harbour Bridge accompanied by her two sons, Bobby and Teddy, and informed the BBC that she “was hoping it [the hīkoi] would be big but it was much more epic than I expected”. Winston Pond, another participant in Wednesday’s march, stated, “I marched to make the point that Te Tiriti [the Treaty of Waitangi] is very important to our national identity.” He added, “We are a multi-cultural society built on a bicultural base – something that cannot be altered.” Juliet Tainui-Hernández, a member of the Māori tribe Ngāi Tahu, and her Puerto Rican partner, Javier Hernández, attended the hīkoi with their daughter, Paloma. Ms. Tainui-Hernández commented that supporters participated “for the respectful and inclusive nation we want Aotearoa [New Zealand] to be for our tamariki mokopuna – our children and grandchildren”. Kiriana O’Connell, also Māori, stated that the existing treaty principles already represented a compromise for her community, and she would not endorse a “rewrite.” The proposed legislation outlines the treaty principles that would be legally defined as: Act leader Seymour, who also serves as New Zealand’s associate justice minister, contends that due to the principles never having been formally defined legally, the courts “have been able to develop principles that have been used to justify actions that are contrary to the principle of equal rights”. He specifies that these encompass “ethnic quotas in public institutions” which he believes contradict the essence of fairness for all New Zealanders. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, despite his affiliation with the same coalition, has nonetheless characterized the bill as “divisive.” Concurrently, the Waitangi Tribunal, established in 1975 to examine alleged violations of the Treaty of Waitangi, observes that the bill “purposefully excluded any consultation with Māori, breaching the principle of partnership, the Crown’s good-faith obligations, and the Crown’s duty to actively protect Māori rights and interests”. The Tribunal further stated that the bill’s principles misconstrued the Treaty of Waitangi, and that this “caused significant prejudice to Māori”. The introduction of the Treaty Principles Bill occurs after several governmental measures that have impacted Māori. These measures encompass the dissolution of the Māori Health Authority, which was established under Jacinda Ardern’s Labour government to foster health equity, and the prioritization of English over Māori in the official nomenclature of government entities, among other examples. Although approximately 18% of New Zealand’s populace identifies as Māori, according to the latest census, a significant portion continues to experience disadvantage relative to the general population when evaluated by indicators such as health outcomes, household income, educational attainment, and incarceration and mortality rates. A seven-year disparity in life expectancy persists. The Treaty of Waitangi constitutes an accord between the British and numerous, though not all, Māori tribes, formally signed in 1840. Its contentious nature stems from its composition in both English and Māori—the latter having been solely a spoken language prior to colonisation—and the two renditions exhibit fundamental discrepancies concerning matters such as sovereignty. While the treaty itself is not codified into law, its principles have been incorporated into various legislative acts over time. The bill is now slated for referral to a select committee, where it will undergo a six-month public hearing process.