Labour MP Peeni Henare has apologised to the Privileges Committee for stepping onto the floor of the debating chamber to perform a haka which interrupted voting on the controversial Treaty Principles Bill – but not for the performance itself.
Henare and three other MPs – including Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi and MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke – were referred to Parliament’s Privileges Committee after performing a haka in November.
In his opening statements to the Privileges Committee this afternoon, Henare apologised “for breaking the rule of stepping away from my seat and onto the floor of the debating chamber”.
“I know the rule with the respect to that and I knew, in doing so, that I would be breaking that rule,” he said.
However, Henare said he stood by his actions in performing the haka, calling the Treaty Principles Bill “one of the most divisive bills I’ve ever seen in my time”.
“It was also a very heated debate in the House for members who were there that day, and I certainly was one who was interjecting strongly throughout the contributions of that bill,” he added.
“Just before the haka, my colleague and my good friend, the Honourable Willie Jackson, had been ejected from the House and so my passion towards seeing this bill defeated, I stand by wholeheartedly and performed the haka on the floor of the House.”
Henare said it was not the first time he had performed a haka on the floor of the House, noting that it was “well-known” to MPs that performing haka and waiata was common when considering treaty settlements.
He nevertheless reiterated his apology to the committee.
“I am aware of the rules and to this committee and members of the House, I do sincerely apologise.”
He said the bill “was designed to intimidate Māori or certain communities in New Zealand”, and the haka had been performed spontaneously “in direct opposition to this bill”.
Henare told reporters after the hearing that he “most definitely” would perform the haka in the debating chamber again.
“If it is the right cause, if it is the right kaupapa like the one that I believed in on the day I stepped onto the floor – 100%.”
The hearing continues.
