At the age of 21, Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke made history as the youngest MP in 170 years. She stepped into the Parliament with a promise to represent the diverse voices of the Māori community. In her maiden speech, she shared, “At 21 years old, this was definitely not the plan… but this House kept trampling on things they shouldn’t be touching. That’s why I left the mārae to come here.“
She stood up for her community, calling out policies that overlooked their rights and heritage. “This Government has attacked my whole world from every corner,” she said. She was speaking out against the exploitation Indigenous people have endured.
Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke: A voice for the Māori people
Committed to protecting the Māori language and representing New Zealand’s younger generation, Maipi-Clarke’s actions speak louder than words. She first gained attention worldwide after her 2023 election by performing a powerful Māori haka during her first parliamentary address.
In November 2024, she performed the haka again, this time opposing a controversial bill. The bill sought to reinterpret New Zealand’s founding document between British colonisers and Māori people. A bill that would undo many of the hard-won rights the indigenous Māori people have fought for over the years.
Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke and the story of Ka Mate
Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke went viral when she ripped up a copy of New Zealand’s controversial Indigenous Treaty Principles Bill while leading the haka “Ka Mate.” Following this, Speaker Gerry Brownlee briefly suspended the Parliament for nearly 20 minutes, calling Maipi-Clarke’s actions “grossly disorderly, appallingly disrespectful, and premeditated.” Maipi-Clarke was suspended from Parliament for 24 hours.
Since being appointed to New Zealand’s Parliament in 2023, Maipi-Clarke has been dedicated to protecting Māori rights and culture, ensuring that the voices of her community do not go unheard. She recognises that her position in Parliament is a valuable opportunity, particularly as a young Māori woman in a political system that has traditionally been controlled by men and has often been unfair to Māori and other marginalised groups.
When she led the haka, her mighty cry encouraged everyone to stand with her in solidarity. This act wasn’t just about the haka. It’s a reminder of how powerful women can be when they stand up for what’s right.
The Māori Treaty Controversy
The Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840, is a foundational document in New Zealand’s history. It was an agreement between Māori chiefs and the British Crown, outlining the relationship between Māori and the Crown. The Treaty forms the basis for laws and policies designed to correct the injustices Māori experienced during and after British colonisation. Some of these were land dispossession, broken promises, and systemic discrimination. It remains central to New Zealand’s efforts to address the historical wrongs inflicted on Māori communities.
The issues with the Act
However, the Act Party, a right-wing political group in New Zealand, has introduced a bill that challenges the principles of the Treaty. The Act Party argues that “equal rights” for all should mean the removal of special provisions for ethnic groups like Māori. They claim that these provisions were intended to remedy past injustices, which have now caused division in New Zealand society. Essentially, they believe that offering specific rights to Māori based on their ethnicity is a form of inequality and contributes to racial division.
This argument ignores the ongoing social and economic disadvantages Māori face. For example, Māori make up about 20% of New Zealand’s population but represent a disproportionately high number of prisoners, accounting for more than half of the country’s incarcerated population. They also face worse health, education, and employment outcomes compared to non-Māori.
The Bill has already sparked racial tensions, with many Māori and supporters of the Treaty seeing it as a step backwards in the fight for equality and justice.
Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke and her Haka: A message of resistance
The message behind Hana Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke performing the haka is deeply rooted in the history of conflict between Māori and European settlers in New Zealand. For centuries, Māori people fought to protect their land, culture, and rights against colonisation. Even today, activists like Maipi-Clarke continue to push for the preservation of Māori language, traditions, and identity. All of these were threatened by colonialism and government policies.
While some might see the haka as aggressive or confrontational, its true message is something else. It is one of courage, defiance, and an unwavering commitment to defending Māori culture and rights. The haka is a traditional Māori performance that speaks to the heart of Māori culture and history. By performing it in Parliament, Maipi-Clarke is using it to ensure Māori voices are heard and respected in spaces where they have historically been silenced or overlooked. She uses it as a powerful form of inclusive communication.
Maipi-Clarke is not only a voice for Māori people but also an inspiration for women everywhere.
The final thoughts
New Zealand MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke is showing the world that representation is not merely about occupying a seat. Instead, it is about actively fighting for justice and change. Her actions are a powerful reminder that diversity, equity, and inclusion mean more than just adding different faces to the table. A true representation, as she advocates, means challenging and changing the systems. It is about changing structures that have long excluded, marginalised, and historically silenced diverse voices.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content, which we define broadly to include media, policies, law, and history—encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and gender-queer individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity.
