New Zealand lawmakers have decided to suspend three politicians from parliament in a record-breaking move after they performed a Maori haka in protest at a proposed bill.
Hana-Rawiti Maipi-Clark was given a seven-day ban, while her political party leaders, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, were given 21-day suspensions.
Three days became the longest suspension of a politician from New Zealand's parliament.
In November, legislators from the Maori party Te Pati Maori performed a haka, or dance challenge, to protest a deeply unpopular bill they say would roll back Indigenous rights and which has now been rejected.
The protest attracted international media attention and sparked months of intense debate about what consequences there should be for politicians' actions and what role Maori culture should have in parliament.
In April, the committee recommended long-term bans. It noted that the punishment was not related to the haku but to the fact that they walked across the floor of the courtroom toward their opponents while performing the dance.
Committee chair Judith Collins said the behaviour was egregious, disruptive and potentially threatening.
Ms. Maypi-Clark, 22, disputed that claim, pointing to other instances in which lawmakers have left their seats and approached opponents without punishment.
The suspended lawmakers said they were treated more harshly than others because of their Maori heritage.
“I came to this house to give a voice to those who have no voice. Is that the real problem?” Ms Maypi-Clark asked in parliament.
“Is this real bullying? Are our voices too loud for this house?”
The haka is increasingly seen, inside and outside parliament, as an important part of New Zealand life. Sacred chanting can be challenging to the audience, but it is not aggressive.
In recent years, Maori language and culture have become part of the New Zealand mainstream, and the haka is beginning to feature in a variety of cultural, ceremonial and festive occasions. It has also been sung in Parliament to welcome the passing of major legislation.
Some critics of the hack protest in parliament cited its timing, with Ms Maypi-Clark chanting during the counting of votes, causing a brief pause in proceedings. She said she had privately apologised to the Speaker of Parliament for the disruption.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
