Treaty Principles Bill: Parliament halted as haka disrupts voting, MP Willie Jackson kicked out

NZ Herald, 14 Nov, 2024

A massive haka started by Te Pāti Māori MPs and joined by those in the public galleries forced the Speaker to suspend Parliament and interrupted the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill.

The haka came as parties were casting their votes on the bill, following a series of often emotional and angry speeches - which also resulted in Labour MP Willie Jackson being kicked out of Parliament.

Te Pāti Māori MP Hana Maipi-Clarke stood to cast Te Pāti Māori’s votes and began the haka, ignoring Brownlee’s attempt to stop it.

She was joined by party co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi and those in the public gallery. Ngarewa-Packer, Waititi and Maipi-Clarke performed their haka directly in front of Act leader David Seymour.

The haka was deafening within the House as those in the public gallery rose to their feet and issued their challenge. Seymour remained seated during the haka.

Several Labour and Green Party MPs performed the haka alongside Te Pāti Māori.