Moment MP leads haka to disrupt New Zealand parliament

Māori Party MP Rawiri Waititi led a haka in the New Zealand parliament on Tuesday, disrupting proceedings and causing the speaker to adjourn the house.

The haka is a traditional Māori war dance that is often used to express defiance or challenge. Waititi's haka was in protest of the government's COVID-19 vaccine mandates, which he has called "discriminatory" and "unjust."

The haka began as Waititi rose to speak on a bill that would extend the government's pandemic powers. As he began to speak, he was interrupted by heckling from National Party MPs. Waititi responded by leading the haka, which was joined by other Māori MPs and some Labour MPs.

The haka was met with a mixture of cheers and jeers from the public gallery. Some people in the gallery also began to sing the New Zealand national anthem.

The speaker, Trevor Mallard, adjourned the house for 10 minutes in an attempt to restore order. However, when the house resumed, Waititi continued to speak out against the vaccine mandates.

Mallard eventually ejected Waititi from the house for disorderly behavior. Waititi was escorted out of the chamber by security guards.

The haka was the latest in a series of protests against the government's COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Thousands of people have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest the mandates, which have been implemented in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.

The government has defended the mandates, saying that they are necessary to protect public health. However, the mandates have been criticized by some as being discriminatory and unnecessary.