Te Pāti Māori haka suspensions

The story so far

Parliament's Privileges Committee recommended suspensions for three Te Pāti Māori MPs after they performed a haka during the Treaty Principles Bill debate.^{14, 15 May 2025} The committee recommended 21-day suspensions for co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, and a seven-day suspension for Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, citing a lack of civility.^{15, 20 May 2025} Prime Minister Christopher Luxon refused to water down the recommendations, and the Government postponed the planned debate on them.^{19, 21 May 2025} About 1,000 people protested outside Parliament, and the co-leaders missed the Budget debate.^{21, 23 May 2025} On 5 June Parliament voted to suspend the three MPs, and the co-leaders also received a severe censure.^{5 Jun 2025}

Latest

On 7 June the co-leaders received the unprecedented 21-day suspensions, while the seven-day suspension applied to Maipi-Clarke.^{7 Jun 2025} Ngarewa-Packer said the Privileges Committee process was not equipped to handle the haka issue.^{7 Jun 2025}

Key moments

1. 15 May 2025Privileges Committee recommends unprecedented suspensions for three Te Pāti Māori MPs.
2. 19 May 2025Luxon rejects any concessions on the proposed 21-day suspensions.
3. 21 May 2025Government postpones the debate, giving all parties two weeks to prepare.
4. 21 May 2025About 1,000 people protest outside Parliament over the proposed exclusion.
5. 23 May 2025Co-leaders miss the Budget debate while the suspension vote is delayed.
6. 5 Jun 2025Parliament votes to suspend the three MPs following the haka.
7. 7 Jun 2025Co-leaders receive unprecedented 21-day suspensions from Parliament.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.