New Zealand’s Youngest MP Performs “Maori Haka” in Parliament
She is the youngest MP in New Zealand history in 170 years. She performed Maori Haka during her inaugural Parliamentary speech and it went viral on social media sites and got reactions from all parts of the world. She was so expressive that the whole parliament started repeating her action and it was echoed in the whole parliament building, with lots of praise around the world her pledge to live and die for the people of her constituency got similar appreciation to her parliamentary speech.
Reflecting on Te Petihana’s Anniversary, she addressed the government restriction that has been between the treaty and Te Rio Maori, She pleasantly urged Maori children to embrace their heritage. Recalling a previous speech for Te Petihana’s 50th anniversary, she highlighted the government’s impact on health, environment, water, land and more.
Maipi Clarke concluded her speech with a heartfelt note to Hauraki-Waikato, emphasising individual uniqueness and dedication to service inside and outside parliament.
About Maipi-Clarke who does Maori Haka
Hana-Rawhiti Kareariki Maipi-Clarke (born 2002) is a New Zealand politician, representing Te Pāti Māori as a Member of Parliament since the 2023 New Zealand general election. She is the youngest MP since James Stuart-Wortley, who was elected in the 1853 election when he was aged 20 years and 7 months.
Elected in October, she unseated the respected incumbent Nanaia Mahuta, known for representing the Hauraki-Waikato seat since 2008. Maipi-Clarke, a Maori, focuses on advocating for the rights of New Zealand’s indigenous communities, drawing inspiration from her grandfather, Taitimu Maipi, a member of the Maori activist group Nga Tamatoa.
Originally from Huntly, a small town between Auckland and Huntly , A small town between Auckland and Hamilton Maipi manages a maori community garden that educates the gardening to children about gardening in Maori community as per lunar calendar . She don’t see her as politician rather she took herself as traditional guardian of Maori language , she believes that voices of new generation Maories should be heard .
Background of Maipi-Clarke
Maipi-Clarke has ancestry in Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou, Te Āti Awa, and Ngāi Tahu. The broadcaster Potaka Maipi is her father. She is the grand-niece of Māori language activist Hana Te Hemara. Taitimu Maipi, whose activism contributed to the removal of the Captain Hamilton statue in 2020, is her grandfather. Wi Katene, the first Māori MP to be appointed to the Executive Council, was her great-great-great-great-grandfather.
What is Maori Haka that was performed by Maipi-Clarke
New Zealand sports teams’ practice of performing a haka to challenge opponents before international matches has made the dance form more widely known around the world.
This tradition began with the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team tour and has been carried on by the New Zealand rugby union team (known as the All Blacks) since 1905. Although popularly associated with the traditional battle preparations of male warriors, conceptions that haka are generally war dances, and the non-accurate performance of haka by non-Māori, are considered erroneous and sometimes offensive by Māori scholars.
What is the Maori war cry? It is a war cry in New Zealand .The traditional Maori performance of haka is a source of absolute pride for all New Zealanders. It is also performed worldwide, but mostly by the All Blacks and the New Zealand Defence Force.
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