In November 2024, three legislators from Te Pati Maori Party protested in parliament on a controversial treaty bill.

The New Zealand Government Committee recommended that three indigenous legislators be temporarily suspended in Parliament last year due to protests against Haka.

The Privileges Commission recommended on Wednesday night that Te Pati Maori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi were suspended for 21 days.

It was also recommended that the representative of New Zealand's 22-year-old youngest legislator, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, was suspended for seven days to "act in a way that could scare the members of the House."

However, according to the committee's report, Maipi-Clarke was subject to shorter sanctions because she had written a letter of "dedication".

The report said that while ritual dances and songs by Haka and Maori were not uncommon in parliament, members realized that the speaker needed permission.

In November, Maipi-Clarke tear up a copy of the controversial racial relations bill with protests Haka, derailing parliament. Party union chief Waititi and Ngarewa-Packer joined her and strode to the room.

The Maori Party is protesting the principles of the Waitaji Treaty, which aims to redefine New Zealand's founding document, the 1840 agreement between the British royal family and the indigenous Maori leaders signed during the New Zealand colonization.

Critics of the bill see it as an attempt to reverse the special rights granted to the country’s gross-rich population.

Last month, the bill voted in favor.

But the Maori Party said the proposal was the toughest fine in the country's parliament, and three days were the longest fine to ban legislators.

The party said: “When Tangata Whatua (indigenous peoples) boycotted, colonial power reached the highest punishment.

But ruling lawmaker Judith Collins, who runs the Privileges Commission and serves as Attorney General, said it is very wrong for members to interrupt voting when they are on the ballot.

"The right to vote without obstacles is the core of being a member of parliament. On the floor of the debate room, it is unacceptable to actually approach another member," Collins said in a press conference Wednesday.

Parliament is scheduled to suspend the vote on Tuesday, expected to pass with the support of the ruling conservative coalition.