A year after having participated in a viral performance of Haka on the ground of the House of Representatives of New Zealand, three Maori deputies are now confronted with long suspensions. The Privileges Committee of Parliament has recommended to suspend the three members of the Maori party for having acted “in a way that could have the effect of intimidating a member of the Chamber in the exercise of their duty”, according to the New Zealand Herald. The Committee recommended 21-day suspensions for the Co-Leaders of the Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi party and a 7-day suspension for Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke.
All three interpreted traditional dance last November as a manifestation during the first reading of the bill on the principles of the Treaty, which sought to reinterpret the founding treaty of the country with the Maori. The bill was finally defeated. Thursday, the committee’s recommendation for a sanction will be put at home and should pass. “Greens and plowing are dissidents of the recommendation, although the work has agreed that the conduct of deputies constituted a contempt,” according to the Herald.
Ta Pat Maori calls it “The worst punishment inflicted from all time in our history”, exceeding a three -day anterior suspension. When the indigenous peoples resist, “the colonial powers reach a maximum penalty”, continues the party, saying that “it is a warning to all of us to queue”. “We have never had any penalties like this in this parliament before,” admits the president of the Judith Collins committee, according to ABC Australia. “But it is because we have never seen this kind of behavior in the House – before a vote.” The incident closed the Parliament for almost 30 minutes, notes the point of sale. (More New Zealand stories.)
