New Zealand’s government is seeking to suspend three Maori lawmakers from parliament.
The move comes after the trio protested a bill by performing a traditional haka dance and tearing up documents on the floor.
The proposed suspension has sparked controversy, with critics arguing it undermines the lawmakers’ rights.
The three Maori MPs – Rawiri Waititi, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke – were involved in the November protest.
During the incident, 22-year-old Maipi-Clarke tore up documents related to the Treaty Principles Bill.
She was backed by Waititi and Ngarewa-Packer, who joined her in performing the haka dance.
The parliamentary committee has recommended suspending Waititi and Ngarewa-Packer for three weeks, while Maipi-Clarke faces a seven-day suspension.
The Maori Party has condemned the proposed suspensions, calling them one of the harshest penalties in New Zealand’s parliamentary history.
In a statement, the party said the move was a sign that the government was trying to silence dissent.
A Divisive Bill
The controversy centers around the Treaty Principles Bill, which aimed to reinterpret the 1840 treaty between Maori chiefs and the British Crown.
Critics argued the bill threatened the rights and privileges of New Zealand’s 900,000-strong Maori population.
The bill was ultimately voted down in parliament last month.
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has defended the proposed suspensions, describing the three MPs as “ungovernable” and saying they used the haka dance to intimidate others.
The suspension vote is expected to pass with a majority next week.
The incident has highlighted the ongoing tensions between the Maori community and the New Zealand government.
The haka dance, a traditional Maori performance, is a powerful symbol of Maori identity and culture.
The Maori Party has called on supporters to stand firm against what they see as an attempt to suppress their rights.
The source of this story is Channel News Asia.