The viral clip shows Māori members of New Zealand’s Parliament performing the haka “Ka Mate” during the first-reading proceedings for the Treaty Principles Bill on 14 November 2024. The Speaker suspended the sitting and cleared the public gallery; proceedings later resumed, and MPs recorded a 68–55 vote in favour of advancing the bill. The proposal was not enacted: Parliament rejected it at its second reading in April 2025.
What happened in Parliament
The haka took place during the first-reading vote proceedings for the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill. The official parliamentary transcript records an initial party vote of 68–55. The Speaker then said the result had not yet been declared, suspended the sitting and cleared the public gallery. After proceedings resumed, the reading continued and the Speaker declared the 68–55 vote in favour. The Hansard transcript provides the official sequence.
That sequence matters: the haka interrupted the proceedings, but it did not permanently stop the sitting or decide the bill’s fate. The first-reading vote allowed the proposal to proceed to further consideration; it was not the final vote on whether it would become law.
What the bill proposed—and why it was contested
Introduced on 7 November 2024, the bill sought to define in law the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, also known as the Treaty of Waitangi. The Ministry of Justice described its stated aim as creating certainty about the Treaty principles and how they apply in New Zealand law. The Ministry’s bill page sets out the official timeline and status.
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Supporters’ case, as reflected in the bill’s stated purpose, was that defining the principles could make their application clearer. Critics argued that the proposal would redefine the Treaty relationship and harm Māori rights. Those are competing political and legal assessments, not a settled finding established by the clip itself. Understanding the video therefore requires separating the stated aim of the legislation from opponents’ account of its likely effects.
Why the haka itself became part of the dispute
For many viewers, the haka appeared as a forceful expression of dissent over a proposal they considered consequential for Māori and the Treaty relationship. The timing also drew procedural objections: reporting by the Associated Press described criticism that MPs left their seats, crossed the chamber toward government politicians and interrupted a vote. The disagreement was therefore not only about the bill, but about whether the conduct should be understood as political protest, disruption, or intimidation.
The transcript establishes what happened procedurally and records the Speaker’s response; it does not settle the competing interpretations of the protest. The Associated Press report describes the public dispute over the act and its meaning.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the bill’s parliamentary path ended
After its first reading, the proposal went through a public submissions process and further parliamentary consideration. Parliament’s 2025 committee FAQ says it received more than 307,000 submissions and held 80 hours of oral submissions over four weeks. The committee report tabled and released more than 110,000 submissions; that is a distinct figure from the number received. Parliament’s FAQ explains the submission and hearing figures.
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On 10 April 2025, the House rejected the bill at its second reading by 112 votes to 11. The Ministry of Justice records that outcome, as does Parliament’s committee material. The video captures a heated moment at the start of the bill’s parliamentary journey, not the event that defeated it.
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What the viral clip does—and does not—show
- It shows: a haka during first-reading proceedings on 14 November 2024, followed by a suspension and resumption of the sitting.
- It does not show: the final disposition of the bill. The first-reading vote was 68–55 in favour; the bill was later rejected 112–11 at second reading on 10 April 2025.
- It cannot resolve: whether the bill would have clarified Treaty principles or undermined Māori rights, or whether the MPs’ actions were justified dissent or unacceptable conduct. Those were—and remain—arguments requiring context beyond the footage.
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