New Zealand's parliament has suspended three Māori MPs following a protest haka they performed during a session last year. The protest was initiated by Opposition MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, who led the traditional dance in response to a question about whether her party, Te Pāti Māori (Māori Party), supported a contentious bill aimed at redefining the country’s founding treaty. Maipi-Clarke has received a seven-day suspension for her role, while party co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer have been banned for 21 days.

The controversial bill, which has since been voted down, sought to alter the terms of the Treaty of Waitangi—an agreement between the British Crown and Māori leaders from 1840—drawing sharp criticism from various segments of the community. New Zealand has historically been recognized for its efforts in promoting indigenous rights, but the current conservative government has been noted for deteriorating relationships with the Māori community.

The viral haka, filmed last November, caught global attention and stirred debate over the boundaries of protest within parliamentary proceedings. A parliamentary committee recently ruled that the act may have "intimidated" fellow lawmakers, marking these suspensions as unprecedented within New Zealand's political history; prior to this, the longest suspension lasted three days.

During the debate on the sanctions, Maipi-Clarke delivered an emotional address, questioning if their outspoken advocacy was the reason for their punishment. "We will never be silenced, and we will never be lost," she declared, visibly moved. This incident occurred amid a growing sentiment against the Māori party, with Foreign Minister Winston Peters labeling them as "a bunch of extremists," further polarizing the political environment.

The Treaty Principles Bill sparked a significant backlash, culminating in a protest where over 40,000 demonstrators gathered outside parliament during its first reading. The proposed legislation, criticized for its potential to create further division, ultimately faced defeat with a vote of 112 to 11 against it. The Māori Party currently holds six seats in New Zealand's 123-seat parliament, continuing their fight for Māori rights and representation against oppressive political measures.