Co-leader of the Maori Party expelled from the New Zealand Parliament for “hacking” World | DW

Maori party co-chair Raviri Vaiditi was expelled from the New Zealand parliament on Wednesday (05.12.2021) for performing a traditional Maori dance called “hakka” in protest of the opposition nationalist party’s “racist rhetoric and propaganda”. .

For about two weeks, National Party leader Judith Collins lashed out at New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Order for looking for ways for tribal people to make better use of their rights. Collins says these efforts are part of “a separatist agenda” without evidence.

Tensions escalated on Wednesday when asked if Collins was referring to “continued attacks on Maori as racist” by Debie Nagareva-Packer Arder, co-chair of the Maori party.

Ngarewa-Packer’s question was blocked by lower house speaker Trevor Mallard, who clarified that the comment was beyond the prime minister’s responsibility, which allowed Collins to continue the debate.

Condemning the hearing of “racist propaganda” against indigenous peoples in recent weeks, Thangada questioned the parliament for allowing a “continuous bombardment” of Venua (a Maori expression representing traditional owners) insults. Of land) “.

The speaker of the lower house, embarrassed, asked him to sit down, but the Maori legislator performed a ceremonial dance called “hakka.”

After Mallard was expelled from the session, Witty, along with Nagareva-Packer, added, “It is not right that the speaker does not have the courage to stop racism in the House, we are not right to support it.” Radio New Zealand.

This is not the first time Waite has been expelled from the council, and in February he also refused to wear a tie and had to leave the legislature, arguing that it was not Maori formal attire and that it was colonial attire. .

About 850,000 of New Zealand’s 5 million people are Maori, although large sections of the population live in poverty or suffer from financial insecurity, with the exception of social problems.

JU (efe, ap, theguardian.com)