Story: Parliament

Haka in the public gallery

Haka in the public gallery

Rakiihia Tau (centre back) leads a haka in Parliament's public gallery as a bill returning control of the South Island's pounamu (greenstone) to the Ngāi Tahu iwi is passed in September 1997. Ngāi Tahu's chief negotiator, Sir Tipene O'Regan, is seated at centre front. Since the 1990s it has been common for visiting iwi to sing waiata or perform haka on occasions of significance.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1997/3761/17-F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

John E. Martin, 'Parliament - Parliament and the public', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/33694/haka-in-the-public-gallery (accessed 20 May 2024)

Story by John E. Martin, published 20 Jun 2012, updated 1 Feb 2015