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Brownlee briefly suspended the House after Kaipara’s address, during which she paid thanks to those who had experienced the “ache of disconnection” through generations of te reo Māori being discouraged and welcomed its current revitalisation.
After a planned waiata at the conclusion of Kaipara’s speech, the majority of those in the public gallery erupted into a haka that was not sanctioned by the House.
Brownlee rose to his feet, calling for the haka to stop. Members in the public gallery ignored him. Some MPs joined in on the haka, including Kaipara and Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke.
MPs and parties must seek permission if their supporters wish to do a haka or sing a waiata from the public gallery.
NZ Herald
