An old video of Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, a young New Zealand parliamentarian, is going viral again. The clip from January this year shows her delivering her first speech and performing the ‘Maori haka’ to honour her indigenous roots.
At 21, Maipi-Clarke made history as the youngest MP in 170 years. In her inaugural address, she pledged her commitment to her constituents, stating, “I will die for you … but I will [also] live for you.”
Video courtesy: Independent
Maipi-Clarke’s speech revisited parts of her Te Petihana anniversary address, emphasizing her dedication amidst the new government’s intentions to limit the use of the Treaty and te reo Māori in legislative matters. Reflecting on her earlier speech outside Parliament for Te Petihana’s 50th anniversary, she remarked, “I truly feel like I’ve already said my maiden speech outside the steps of Parliament last year.”
She expressed deep concern over recent government policies, which she felt directly targeted her and her community. “In only a couple of weeks … this Government has attacked my whole world … Health, taiao [environment], wai [water], whenua [land], natural resources, Māori wards, reo [language], tamariki, and the right of me and you to be in this country under Te Tiriti,” she stated, questioning how she could remain unaffected when the policies seemed to be about her.
Addressing her electorate, Maipi-Clarke conveyed a heartfelt message: “To Hauraki-Waikato, I am at your service in and outside of Parliament. I will die for you in these chambers, but I will live for you outside these four walls.” She encouraged her audience with the words, “Never fit in. You are perfect. You are the perfect fit.”
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Maipi-Clarke sees herself not as a conventional politician, but as a kaitiaki (guardian) for Māori language, land, and traditional wisdom. She believes it’s time for a new generation of Māori voices to be heard.
What is haka
The haka, which Maipi-Clarke performed, is traditionally a way to greet visiting tribes and energize warriors before battle, showcasing physical strength and cultural pride. Today, the haka is a symbol of reverence, performed at significant events like sports matches, weddings, funerals, and traditional welcomes.
Maipi-Clarke’s victory in the recent national elections unseated Labour’s Nanaia Mahuta, who had held the Hauraki-Waikato Māori electorate for two decades. Hailing from Huntly, Maipi-Clarke manages a māra kai, a Māori community garden educating local children about gardening according to the Māori lunar calendar, ‘maramataka’. She also authored a book encouraging young people to explore the stars and the moon for self-healing.
Her lineage includes notable figures: her ancestor, Wiremu Katene, was the first Māori minister to the Crown in 1872; her aunt, Hana Te Hemara, presented the Māori language petition to parliament in 1972; and her grandfather Taitimu Maipi made headlines in 2018 for protesting against the colonial legacy by vandalizing a statue of Capt John Hamilton.
