Three Maori Deputies Were Temporarily Suspended From Work For Protest With Hack Dance In Parliament Of New Zealand

The Parliament of New Zealand decided to remove the three Maori deputies who fulfilled the traditional dance of Khak in protest against the disputed bill. This was the longest punishment for parliamentarians in the history of the country.

The co-chairs of the Maoriysk Party Tee Pati Maori Debbie Ngarev-Pacaker and Raviri Vaititi were removed from meetings for 21 days, and 22-year-old deputy Khan-Rosti-Klaark-for 7 days.

The incident occurred in November 2024 during the discussion of the bill on the principles of the Vaitanga agreement – an agreement between the British crown and the indigenous people of Maori, signed 184 ago. The bill caused stormy debates, as it provides for the revision of the existing interpretations of the contract.

After the incident, the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges recommended the temporary removal of three deputies. The main opposition Labor Party considered the punishment excessive and called for limiting himself to public censure.