Backlash Mounts Over ‘Racist’ Haka Targeting ACT MP: Anti-Racism Groups Call for New Cultural Standards

A controversial haka targeting ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar has sparked a backlash in New Zealand, with calls for Te Matatini to mandate strict anti-racism standards.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 25, 2026, 4:35 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

A Performance Ignites Racial Tension The People's Action Plan Against Racism (PAPARA) has officially called for structural changes within Te Matatini, New Zealand's premier kapa haka organization, following a performance by the group Te Pae Kahurangi. During the Tainui Regional competition, the group delivered a haka directed at ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar that utilized Indian cultural and religious elements in a derogatory manner. The incident has raised urgent questions about the line between political expression and racial vilification within traditional Māori performance art.

Stereotypes and Derogatory Lyrics Under Scrutiny The controversial haka featured lyrics such as "hoki atu rā ki tō kāinga ake... ki nui pōhara," which translates to a demand for Parmar to return to her "own home" of "great poverty" and "many problems." Beyond the text, the choreography included performers mockingly mimicking a bindi and sitting cross-legged in prayer positions. Che Wilson, a former president of Te Pāti Māori, was also observed using a mock Indian accent and specific head gestures during the performance, leading to accusations that the item "lampooned" an entire ethnicity rather than focusing on political disagreement.

The Political Catalyst: Treaty Principles and Penalties The targeting of Parmjeet Parmar stems from her recent political stances, which many Māori groups view as hostile to their interests. Parmar notably sought advice on whether imprisonment was a viable penalty for Te Pāti Māori MPs who performed a protest haka in Parliament. Additionally, she has campaigned against race-based university scholarships and the requirement for international students to take courses on the Treaty of Waitangi. While Te Pae Kahurangi maintains the haka was a response to these "prejudices," critics argue that attacking her ethnicity undermines the legitimacy of the political critique.

Community Impact and Professional Repercussions Prominent figures within the Indian and Māori communities have condemned the performance. Former Young New Zealander of the Year Shaneel Lal expressed that while criticism of Parmar’s policies is justified, extending that criticism to her identity makes the Indian community feel "hounded." Similarly, Māori-Gujarati academic Dr. Jessica Hutchings stated that the mockery of her Indian heritage was a form of racism that harmed mixed-race New Zealander...