Cultural heritage in action

  On Thursday, 22-year-old MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke made global headlines when she performed a powerful haka, a Maori war cry, in New Zealand's Parliament, tearing a copy of a controversial bill as part of her protest. A TikTok video of the moment, posted by Maori Television, has since been viewed over 200 million times and has garnered over 25 million likes in just three days. [...] Hana performed the haka Ka Mate during Parliament's first reading of the controversial Treaty Principles Bill – an attempt by the far-right coalition government to strip Maori of their Treaty rights. The bill is widely regarded as one of the most egregious measures in a series of legislative changes pushed by the government, which Maori view as direct attacks on their health, language, culture, and land rights. [...]
  Hana began by calmly stating in her native language, “Six votes opposed.” She then performed a pao – an impromptu song – reminding members of Parliament of their place within the country: “Government! You were made a guest by me!” Despite Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee's attempt to interrupt, Hana launched into the iconic haka Ка Mate. She was joined by members of her own party, Maori MPs from Labour and the Greens, and a packed public gallery.
  The haka Ka Mate was composed in 1820 by celebrated Maori leader Te Rauparaha of the Ngāti Toa Rangatira tribe. It speaks to moments of “life or death” and celebrates the triumph of surviving seemingly insurmountable odds, making it an apt protest against the controversial bill.
  After halting proceedings with her haka, Hana exited the House, where she was immediately surrounded by reporters asking why she had performed the haka. Hana casually responded that she was simply being Maori, as that's all she knows.