• New Zealand’s Parliament was briefly suspended after Maori members staged a haka to disrupt the vote on a contentious Bill that would reinterpret a 184-year-old treaty between the British and Indigenous Maori.

What is haka dance?

• The haka is a traditional Maori dance embodying cultural pride, strength, and unity. 

• Historically, it was performed by warriors to intimidate enemies or welcome guests. 

• Today, it serves broader ceremonial purposes, such as expressing grief, honouring achievements, or showcasing solidarity.

Types of Haka

• Ka Mate: Celebrates life over death; famously performed by New Zealand’s All Blacks rugby team.

• Peruperu: A war haka used to intimidate adversaries.

• Ngeri: A short haka to uplift spirits.

• Powhiri: A welcoming haka for formal occasions.

• Manawa Wera: Performed at funerals to express sorrow.

Why was haka performed in Parliament?

• The protest haka was staged against the Treaty Principles Bill, which passed its first reading despite opposition from Maori, Labour, and Green MPs. 

• The Bill, tabled by Act Party leader David Seymour, seeks to legally define the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

• First signed in 1840 between the British Crown and more than 500 Maori chiefs, the Treaty of Waitangi lays down how the two parties agreed to govern. 

• The interpretation of clauses in the document still guides legislation and policy today. Rulings by the courts and a separate Maori tribunal have progressively expanded Maori rights and privileges over the decades. 

• However, some argue this has discriminated against non-Indigenous citizens.

• New Zealand Party, a junior partner in the ruling centre-right coalition government, last week unveiled a Bill to enshrine a narrower interpretation of the Waitangi treaty in law.

• As parliamentarians gathered for a preliminary vote on the Bill, Te Pati Maori MPs stood and began a haka, a traditional Maori dance made famous by New Zealand’s rugby team.

• Parliament was briefly suspended as people in the gallery joined in, and shouting drowned out others in the chamber.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)