SOURCE :- THE AGE NEWS
By Lucy Craymer
Wellington: New Zealand’s youngest MP, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, is among three indigenous politicians who have been suspended from parliament over a haka protest in the chamber, which went viral last November.
The Privileges Committee recommended that Te Pati Maori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi be suspended for 21 days, while 22-year-old Maipi-Clarke received a seven-day ban for acting in “a manner that could have the effect of intimidating a member of the house”.
Maipi-Clarke began the loud, animated protest last year by ripping up New Zealand’s controversial Treaty Principles Bill in a clip that spread rapidly across social media.
Ngarewa-Packer is also alleged to have made a hand gesture similar to a finger gun and simulated a firing motion.
The bill, which would have redefined the treaty enshrining Maori rights in New Zealand’s constitution, has since failed to gain sufficient support to become law.
The report found that while both haka – a Maori ceremonial dance – and song are not uncommon occurrences in parliament, members were aware that permission from the Speaker was needed beforehand unless they were performed during their speech.
Parliament now must vote to approve the suspension. The vote is expected to pass with the support of the ruling conservative coalition.
Te Pati Maori posted on Instagram that the proposed punishments were the strongest ever handed down by the committee.
“When Tangata whenua (Indigenous people) resist, colonial powers reach for maximum penalty. This is a warning shot to all of us to fall in line,” it said.
Judith Collins from the governing National Party, who heads the Privileges Committee and serves as attorney-general, said it was highly disorderly for members to interrupt a vote while in progress.
“The right to cast one’s vote without impediment goes to the heart of being a member of parliament. It is not acceptable to physically approach another member on the floor of the debating chamber,” Collins told a press conference on Wednesday.
Te Pati Maori refused to go before the Privileges Committee but did provide a written response, saying it was appropriate “to rise and haka to express anger and opposition to a subject that is abusive and denigrating”.
Henare appeared before the Privileges Committee earlier this year and apologised to parliament.
Reuters / AAP
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