WELLINGTON – A New Zealand Maori leader was ejected from the parliament for refusing to wear a necktie.
Rawiri Waititi was twice prevented from asking questions in the debating chamber. Speaker Trevor Mallard insisted that a member of parliament could only ask a question if they are wearing a tie.
“It’s not about ties, it’s about cultural identity, mate,” Waititi said as he exited the chamber after being ordered by Mallard to leave.
“I took off the colonial tie as a sign that it continued to colonize, to choke, and to suppress out Maori rights that Mallard suggests give us all equality,” he added.
Waititi said forcing him to a Western dress code is a breach of his rights and an attempt to suppress the indigenous culture.
He was warned last year that he would be ejected from the House if he fails to wear a tie. On Tuesday he wore a taonga, a Maori greenstone pendant, instead.(Reuters)
