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submitted 1 month ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

The New Zealand Parliament has voted to impose record suspensions on three lawmakers who did a Maori haka as a protest. The incident took place last November during a debate on a law on Indigenous rights.

New Zealand's parliament on Thursday agreed to lengthy suspensions for three lawmakers who disrupted the reading of a controversial bill last year by performing a haka, a traditional Maori dance.

Two parliamentarians — Te Pati Maori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi — were suspended for 21 days and one — Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, from the same party — for seven days.

Before now, the longest suspension of a parliamentarian in New Zealand was three days.

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[-] zqps@sh.itjust.works 289 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

“Are our voices too loud for this house? Is that the reason why we are being silenced? Are our voices shaking the core foundation of this house? The house we had no voice in building ...We will never be silenced and we will never be lost,” she said.

Fucking powerful.

Despite the signing of the treaty in 1840, there were many bloody conflicts between the colonial government and Maori tribes in ensuing years, resulting in the confiscation of large amounts of Maori land. Tensions remain to this day between New Zealand's Indigenous people and the descendants of the Europeans who colonized their country.

Hey nice, journalism with a backbone!

[-] Karjalan@lemmy.world 45 points 1 month ago

It feels so weird, and a little scary, to see people praising brave journalism when they're basically just staying historical facts... It's that not normal journalism? 😅

[-] catloaf@lemm.ee 31 points 1 month ago

For anyone used to American news especially, no.

[-] MonkeMischief@lemmy.today 13 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Speaking truth when it could get your life ruined or sometimes even taken by the wicked and powerful will always be an act of bravery.

But I agree with you as well. It's terrifying to be surprised when journalists speak the truth, and to see the suppression of truth become "normal" before our very eyes.

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[-] Noerknhar@feddit.org 229 points 1 month ago

Well that sounds like some quality racism over there.

[-] nesc@lemmy.cafe 20 points 1 month ago

Do you believe that every party in every parliament in the world should be able to just stop parliament from working instead of trying to actually vote for laws/bills the way they think is right because they are sure that they are right and their voice aren't being heard (even if they are minority in the said parliament or don't have quorum)?

It was a performance point of which was disruption of parliament session, which was achieved. (I have 0 stakes in this, NZ might as well be in another universe)

[-] NoForwardslashS@sopuli.xyz 125 points 1 month ago

These people are underrepresented and standing up for their constituents, suspend them so they can stop doing that!

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[-] BossDj@lemm.ee 49 points 1 month ago

I think the issue is more that they went from a 3 day suspension being the record high for disruptive behavior to suddenly 21 for these minority members.

A lawmaker during the arguments said that they had previously given zero suspension to a fistfight, someone driving their truck onto the buildings steps in protest, another member crossing the floor to bump another members desk. But this dance is 21 days.

[-] nesc@lemmy.cafe 23 points 1 month ago

This does look like they are specifically singled out, true.

[-] SereneSadie@lemmy.myserv.one 41 points 1 month ago

So don't comment with ignorant babble then.

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[-] grue@lemmy.world 28 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Do you believe that every party in every parliament in the world should be able to just stop parliament from working instead of trying to actually vote for laws/bills the way they think is right because they are sure that they are right and their voice aren’t being heard (even if they are minority in the said parliament or don’t have quorum)?

My legislative body has the filibuster and I think it has a useful function, so yes!


BTW, there's no good reason whatsoever the NZ parliament couldn't have resumed business after the haka. None at all.

The only reason they didn't was because the leadership decided to feign performative fear and end the session in order to manufacture an excuse to punish the native legislators and exclude them from influencing the budget.

[-] barsoap@lemm.ee 25 points 1 month ago

Do you believe that every party in every parliament in the world should be able to just stop parliament from working instead of trying to actually vote for laws/bills

Plenty of parliamentarians getting kicked out of western parliaments for wearing t-shirts with slogans, holding up signs, suchlike. Suspensions generally are extraordinarily short and little more than "ok we'll give you some time to change into respectable attire". Also make a scene? Add a day. Make them watch from the visitor's benches. Pay attention they don't miss (relevant) votes.

That would have been the proper reaction: The proper way to handle ritual stunts (and they're a ritual, also the t-shirt thing) is with ritual slaps on the wrist.

The NZ reaction? They're suspending parliamentarians for unprecedented amounts of time, and on top of that while the budget is being passed. That is, they're fucking with the distribution of votes, which is fucking with the foundations of democracy. That is, for a parliament, nothing less than a declaration of bankruptcy.

[-] tane6@lemm.ee 14 points 1 month ago

Good lord dot world is filled with the most pathetic fucking losers imaginable

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[-] Nomad_Scry@lemmy.sdf.org 13 points 1 month ago

You sound like Hillary Clinton talking about being pragmatic (while completely missing the point.) Like people who complain about protesters blocking roads because it inconveniences their commute. Maybe that's your intent or maybe you don't understand that civility can be a form of oppression?

[-] Tiger666@lemmy.ca 12 points 1 month ago
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[-] Stamets@lemmy.world 201 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

"a manner that could have the effect of intimidating a member of the house."

Oh go fuck yourself. Can the haka be intimidating as hell? Oh god yes. But you should also be able to recognize the difference between active intimidation and a powerful protest. Especially when YOUR COUNTRY IS KNOWN FOR IT.

[-] zqwzzle@lemmy.ca 105 points 1 month ago

Weirdly their ancestors weren’t intimidated when it came to colonizing and stealing their land.

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[-] ieatpwns@lemmy.world 36 points 1 month ago

They saw it as a threat because they’re threatening the natives way of life and they’re scared of being in the shoes of the oppressed

[-] mic_check_one_two@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 1 month ago

Something something “when you’re used to privilege, equality feels like oppression.”

[-] germanichwurst@feddit.org 86 points 1 month ago
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[-] glaber@lemm.ee 81 points 1 month ago

And, in 2025, the Pākehā keep deciding what happens to indigenous land and indigenous resources, without letting Maori have any voice in it. Toitū te Tiriti!

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[-] bitjunkie@lemmy.world 81 points 1 month ago

Racist fucks

[-] fritobugger2017@lemmy.world 80 points 1 month ago
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[-] Doubleohdonut@lemmy.ca 62 points 1 month ago

I get chills every time I've watched this haka being performed. It is such a poweerful statement and this reaction is complete garbage. When the people of your country speak, surely government should be open to listening?

[-] Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 74 points 1 month ago

It made them uncomfortable, and whatever the law actually says, nothing is more illegal than making rich white people uncomfortable.

[-] Zacryon@feddit.org 58 points 1 month ago

Here is a metal version of her really impressive protest. How is this not awesome?

https://youtu.be/JddEXEJ8_S0

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[-] driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br 51 points 1 month ago

Settler colonial government doing what settler colonial governments do.

[-] mcv@lemm.ee 47 points 1 month ago

What!? But that haka was awesome! How can you not enjoy that?

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[-] 2ugly2live@lemmy.world 32 points 1 month ago

Just made it cooler. Didn't even think that was possible

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[-] FauxPseudo@lemmy.world 28 points 1 month ago

'If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.'

[-] CircaV@lemmy.ca 25 points 1 month ago

Shame. Wtf is wrong with your shitty shitty politics New Zealand?!!?! (Not an American, so I can call out anti-Indigenous politics)

[-] JacksonLamb@lemmy.world 42 points 1 month ago

Not an American, so I can call out anti-Indigenous politics

Any decent human being can and should call out anti-Indigenous politics, no matter their nationality.

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this post was submitted on 05 Jun 2025
679 points (100.0% liked)

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