Wellington: Chaos erupted in New Zealand Parliament after the country’s youngest MP Hana-Rawhiti Kareariki Maipi-Clarke, staged traditional Maori dance and ripped apart a copy of a contentious bill. The controversial proposed law aims to refine the country’s founding agreement between Indigenous Maori and the British Crown, reported The Associated Press.
Maipi-Clarke was shot to fame last year after her video of performing haka during her maiden speech in parliament went viral.
Today's video of the vote on the Treaty Principles Bill also started doing rounds on social media platforms after the 22-year-old Te Pati Maori MP interrupted the vote on the Treaty Principles Bill and tore it.
Video Of The Incident:
Hana Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, the woman that you are 🖤🤍❤️ pic.twitter.com/wtf0pgjUnc
— 🫶🏽🤎 (@wateryonce) November 14, 2024
Notably, under the principles laid out in the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, tribes were promised broad rights to retain their lands and protect their interests in return for ceding governance to the British. For the unversed, the treaty guides the relationship between the government and the Maori.
The bill would specify that those rights should apply to all New Zealanders, reported the news agency. Last week, the bill was reportedly introduced by ACT New Zealand party, an ally of the country's centre-right coalition government.
The bill has scant support and is unlikely to become law. Critics are of the opinion that the bill threatens racial discord and constitutional upheaval. It sparked protests across the country.
However, the proposed law passed its first vote on Thursday.