A Maori MP was kicked out of Parliament for not being tied to a tie

“I was expelled from the association because I wasn’t wearing work clothes, according to the association’s president. But as we know as Maori, our professional attire is hi-tiki, I wear a suit and jacket, and I think it is appropriate to be able to represent our people in the outfit I wear here.Rwiri Waititi, the Maori party co-leader and New Zealand MP, has been expelled from Parliament for wearing the traditional Maori collar instead of a tie, which is mandatory for men by Parliamentary decision.

Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer are the co-leaders of the Māori Party, which advocates greater representation of Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. To protest the dress code, Debbie Ngarwa Packer wore a tie, although she is not obligated to do so as a woman. New Zealand’s parliament is the most diverse in the country, with 21% Maori.

Although some called on parliamentarians to be able to dress according to their own interpretation of the dress code, the Speaker of the House sided with the majority in Parliament, which favors keeping the dress code as it is. “I have been recommended work clothes and what I wear is a Maori work gown and a Maori tie. This is how I present myself to you todayRory Alwaiti said.