New Zealand Parliament Suspended as Maori Lawmakers Perform Haka | Vantage with Palki Sharma In New Zealand, MPs disrupted the parliament with haka to protest the indigenous treaty bill. The bill aims to reinterpret the country's founding treaty with its indigenous people.

Proposal targets nation’s 1840 founding document that included agreement between Indigenous Maori and British Crown

Speaker of Parliament Gerry Brownlee condemned the interruption as "grossly disorderly," clearing onlookers from the public gallery and temporarily suspending proceedings.

Parliament was briefly suspended on Thursday after Maori members performed a haka — a traditional ceremonial group dance — to disrupt the vote on a controversial bill.

The Treaty of Waitangi, which is the focus of the proposed bill, dates back to 1840 and is considered New Zealand's founding document. The agreement was signed by Māori chiefs and the British monarchy and focused on rectifying wrongs done to the indigenous people when the country was colonized.

New Zealand's parliament was suspended after Maori lawmakers performed a haka to interrupt a vote on a controversial bill.

Members of New Zealand's parliament have rallied the international community in support of the island country's indigenous groups, as contentious legislation moves forward that could threaten Maori support systems.

New Zealand's Parliament was briefly suspended after Maori lawmakers staged a haka to disrupt the vote on a contentious bill that would reinterpret a 184-year-old treaty.

The New Zealand Parliament was suspended after Maori members staged a haka to disrupt the vote on a contentious bill to reinterpret an 184-year-old treaty between the British and Indigenous Maori. The controversial legislation is seen by many Maori and their supporters as undermining the rights of the country’s Indigenous people,

Indigenous Maori lawmakers disrupted New Zealand's parliament with a stirring "haka" dance, voicing opposition to a race relations bill that has ignited protests across the country.