New Zealand’s Parliament was briefly suspended on Thursday (November 14) after a controversial Maori bill sparked a haka dance protest, wild debate and personal attacks.

The bill proposed to radically change the way New Zealand’s treaty between Māori and the crown is interpreted.

The Treaty of Waitangi, an agreement first signed in 1840 between more than 500 Māori chiefs and the crown, sets out how both sides agreed to govern.

In addition, he works to respect the rights of the Maori.

As parliamentarians gathered for a preliminary vote on the bill, Te Pati Māori MPs stood up and began the traditional Māori dance, the haka.

Hauraki Waikato MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke began the haka after tearing up the bill in parliament.

The principles of the Treaty have been implemented for more than 50 years by successive courts and governments to help guide the relationship between Māori and the ruling authorities.

In the meantime, many principles have been developed and continue to evolve, but the most recognized and general are participation, partnership, protection and reparation.

Court rulings and a separate Māori court saw an expansion of Māori rights and privileges over the decades.

However, some argue that this constitutes discrimination against non-native citizens.

Critics of the bill have said the proposed law undermines the treaty and its principles, which they say threatens Māori rights and promotes anti-Māori rhetoric.

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This sparked significant public backlash, as many Māori and their supporters saw it as an attack on the rights of the country’s indigenous people, who make up around 20% of the country’s 5.3 million population.

Hundreds of people began a nine-day march, or hikoi, from northern New Zealand to the nation’s capital, Wellington, to protest the legislation.

Protesters will arrive in Wellington next Tuesday, where tens of thousands of people are expected to gather for a large rally.

Speaking in the House, Act leader David Seymour said the principles “give Māori different rights to other New Zealanders… The aim of this bill is to break the 49 years of silence of this Parliament to define the principles in the law so that it is very clear. the treaty means for modern New Zealanders.”

His speech was met with disapproval from opposition parties, prompting the Speaker of the House to repeatedly demand that the “barrage” of rebuttals cease.

Additionally, more than 40 king’s counsel lawyers wrote an open letter to New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Attorney General Judith Collins, and urged them to scrap the bill.

The justice committee is expected to hear submissions on the bill, which will likely take six months. After that, it will return to Parliament for a second reading.

(With contribution from agencies)