A: Hey, guess what's been happening in New Zealand lately?

B: Not a clue, what is it?

A: Well, three Maori members got suspended from Parliament!

B: What for? That sounds serious.

A: They did this traditional haka dance during a session last year to protest against a controversial bill. The bill was about reinterpreting a treaty that protects the rights of the indigenous Maori people. People thought it might take away their rights, so it got voted down.

B: Whoa, that's intense! And they got suspended for it?

A: Yeah, a committee said their actions could have scared other lawmakers. Parliament decided to suspend two of them for 21 days and one for 7 days after hours of arguments. The ruling party supported the decision, but opposition parties were against it.

B: That's crazy! I can't believe they got such a long suspension.

A: Yeah, it's been a while since something like this happened. Parliamentary officials say it's the longest suspension in decades.
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New Zealand lawmakers have approved the suspension of three Maori members over a traditional haka dance during last year's session.



Their performance, staged in November, was in protest of a controversial bill that would have reinterpreted a treaty protecting the indigenous Maori people. Opponents warned it could undermine their rights. The bill was later voted down.



A parliamentary committee recommended the suspension saying that the members' actions could have intimidated other lawmakers.



Parliament voted on Thursday to suspend two of the lawmakers for 21 days and 7 days for the third. The vote followed hours of arguments as opposition parties were against the decision, while the ruling conservative coalition supported it.



Officials at the Parliamentary Service say it's the longest suspension in decades.