Following a haka performance during the reading of a controversial bill last year, a New Zealand government committee on Wednesday suggested temporarily suspending three Indigenous members from parliament.
The Privileges Committee suggested that Te Pati Maori representative Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke be suspended for seven days for acting in “a manner that could have the effect of intimidating a member of the house,” while co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi be suspended for 21 days.
Although haka, Maori ceremonial dance, and song are commonplace in parliament, the investigation discovered that members were aware that the speaker’s consent was required in advance unless they were performed during their address.
