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New Zealand’s Parliament descended into a heated debate, personal attacks, and an impassioned haka as MPs clashed over a controversial bill that threatens Māori rights and undermines the Treaty of Waitangi.

The Treaty Principles Bill, introduced by the libertarian ACT Party as part of a coalition agreement, passed its first reading on Nov. 14. However, the session was temporarily suspended when opposition MPs and members of the public gallery joined a haka led by Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, who tore up a copy of the bill in protest.

The legislation seeks to remove the principles of participation, partnership, protection, and redress that have evolved over decades to interpret the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s founding document signed in 1840 between Māori chiefs and the British Crown. These principles have guided efforts to address disparities faced by Māori, including initiatives such as revitalizing the Māori language and establishing a now-disbanded Māori health authority.

ACT Party leader David Seymour defended the bill, claiming it would “define the principles in law” and ensure equality by removing what he described as “special rights for Māori”. His remarks, however, were met with vocal opposition. Labour MP Willie Jackson denounced the proposal as a "disgusting piece of legislation" and accused Seymour of undermining Māori rights. Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi went further, comparing ACT’s approach to the "KKK with a swipecard to the Beehive New Zealand’s Parliament."

The bill has ignited widespread public reaction. Thousands of people are participating in a nine-day hīkoi or protest march, traveling from the northern tip of New Zealand to the capital. Their arrival in Parliament is expected next week. Additionally, over 40 King’s Counsel lawyers have issued an open letter urging Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Attorney General Judith Collins to abandon the legislation.

Opposition leaders have called on the government to vote down the bill, with Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick challenging MPs to "listen to your conscience" and do what is right.

Despite its passage in the first reading, the bill’s future looks uncertain. National, the major coalition partner, and New Zealand First have already signaled they will not support it beyond the select committee stage. The justice committee is set to review the bill over the next six months before it returns for a second reading.

The haka, performed during the parliamentary session, underscored the deep cultural and political significance of the debate. Maipi-Clarke’s defiant act of ripping up the bill has been praised by some as a bold defense of Māori rights and an act of political resistance, while some condemned it as inappropriate in a parliamentary setting.

As the protests grow louder, the controversy surrounding the Treaty Principles Bill is reshaping New Zealand’s political landscape, bringing Māori rights and the legacy of the Treaty of Waitangi into sharp focus.