New Zealand Parliament has officially become a meme again. New Te Pāti Māori MP, Oriini Kaipara’s pathetic attempt at a haka that was so tone-deaf, so utterly cringe, that even Elon Musk couldn’t resist weighing in. “Mental,” he called it, and he’s right. The clip has spread like wildfire across X, with thousands of people laughing at Oriini and her utterly embarrassing little dance.
This wasn’t powerful. It wasn’t meaningful. It was a spectacle, pure political theatre with all the authenticity of a kids’ end-of-year concert. It wasn’t cultural pride, it was cosplay.
When haka is performed in Parliament by MPs desperate for attention, it becomes a parody of itself. The world isn’t impressed; they’re laughing.It’s not just a few people online, it’s some of the world’s biggest voices calling it out as embarrassing.
Oriini Kaipara knew what she was doing. She knew haka isn’t allowed in Parliament without prior approval. She knew others, Debbie, Hana, and Rawiri, were suspended for the exact same thing. She did it anyway because rules don’t seem to apply to Te Pāti Māori. And now, predictably, they have dragged the entire country down with them.
Te Pāti Māori have turned New Zealand into a global punchline. They have taken something meant to be sacred and turned it into content for internet mockery. The world is laughing, not because of our culture, but because of the clowns performing it.
Suspend her. Strip her pay. And next time someone feels the urge to perform a haka in Parliament, maybe remember it is a place of lawmaking, not a TikTok audition.
I would normally say "rinse and repeat" but I'm not sure how often TPM Maori bathe as many of them look like they need more than a 'speed date' with a hot shower and a bar of soap!
There needs to be phyicatric examination of members before they enter the house. The warning signs of things not being being normal were evident prior to the by election. This countries affinity with stone age customs must surely be in question, even by the left non Maoris who wear tikies and believe they have some extraordinary academic prowess by learning a language not understood anyway else. I am so glad to have descended from British stock.