In New Zealand, a 21-year-old MP took center stage in an impressive anti-parliamentary stand to denounce racism in his country

His eyes were on fire. On December 12, Māori and New Zealand MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clark woke up all her colleagues during her speech in the middle of the parliamentary session. Elected last October and becoming her country’s youngest female politician in 170 years, she delivered an anthological “rant” that was widely shared on social media. A gesture aimed at condemning the center-right government’s racist policies towards indigenous peoples.

“I’ll die for you”

“What is the purpose of this gathering in this holy place? It is unity. It’s unity,” he announced in Maori for the first time. Before launching into her traditional dance and song, Hana-Ravithi Mypi-Clark then angrily denounced the policies of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. “This government has attacked my world from all sides: our health, our environment, our water, our land, our natural resources, our Maori neighborhoods, our language, our children and my right to be in this country, and yours. , according to our constitution, he said. I am at your service, inside and outside this parliament. I would die for you in this room and live for you outside these walls. And continue. “It’s not my moment, but yours. Every time you hear my voice, it will echo my ancestors. Every time you look into my eyes, you will see the surviving children. Dressed in a white jacket and red T-shirt, with long hair, he raised his right hand to the sky as if to swear a vow of sincerity before he began to sing under both stunned and enthusiastic gazes of his peers.

In early December, many demonstrations took place in the country to protest against the new government led by Christopher Luxon and thus protect the rights of the indigenous Maori population. The party won only six seats in the parliament after the 2023 legislative elections.