Unprecedented Suspensions Recommended for Māori Lawmakers After Haka Protest

Wellingon, New Zealand. May 15, 2025. A New Zealand parliamentary committee has made the unprecedented recommendation to suspend three Māori lawmakers for their haka protest during a parliamentary session last November. The protest was a response to a bill that would redefine the country's founding law. The committee's report, released today, recommends suspensions of varying lengths: one lawmaker faces a seven-day suspension, while the other two face 21-day suspensions. This is the harshest punishment ever recommended for New Zealand lawmakers. According to the committee chair, "These punishments recommended by the committee are very severe and are unprecedented in this Parliament." The incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the bill and the role of protest within the New Zealand Parliament. The suspensions, if implemented, will likely spark further debate about the balance between free speech and parliamentary decorum.