Reclaiming Culture, Identity, and Resistance: Powerful New Year's Lessons from the Māori Haka Protest

New Zealand Treaty Law Protest (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press)

As we step into the New Year, with global conversations around social injustice, civil rights threats, and resistance reigniting through events like the upcoming nationwide Women’s March amid America’s impending return to Trump’s familiar leadership, the powerful Māori haka protest serves as a timely reminder of how cultural expression can inspire hope, healing, and the courage to confront injustice.

In a moment that captivated the world, Māori Members of Parliament in New Zealand tore up a harmful bill threatening the Treaty of Waitangi. This treaty is one of the foundational agreements securing Indigenous sovereignty in the country. It serves as the basis for laws and policies designed to address and rectify the historical injustices inflicted upon the Māori by colonizers. This act of resistance, paired with the performance of the haka—a Māori ceremonial dance that serves as a deeply meaningful expression of unity, defiance, and cultural pride—was more than a symbolic gesture. It was a declaration of power, a rejection of injustice, and a rallying cry for all communities fighting oppression. Watch the protest here.

As a cross-cultural awareness, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and racial equity expert, I am deeply inspired by how this act underscores the significance of culture as a tool for resistance and progress. My work has taken me across the globe, learning and teaching about the power of embracing diverse traditions and histories. The Māori MPs’ protest resonates not only as a political act but also as a cultural one—reminding us of the transformative power of reclaiming our roots.

Experiencing the Haka Firsthand

My first encounter with the haka was during the 2024 Pacific Islander Festival Association (PIFA) event here in San Diego, where I performed with my hula dance group, Heali‘i’s Polynesian Dance Revue. Watching the Māori dancers, all the way from New Zealand, perform their haka was awe-inspiring. Their movements, energy, and unity were captivating, and I remember wondering where they found the strength to sustain such intensity. Seeing this cultural expression applied in real-life resistance by Māori MPs was a full-circle moment for me. It reaffirms how deeply rooted traditions can be harnessed not just for celebration but for meaningful change.

More recently, my connection to the haka deepened further when my hula group taught us a haka dance as part of our Christmas performance. Performing the haka to Tangi Pere, the Māori version of Jingle Bell Rock, reminded me once again of how cultural expressions carry both celebration and resistance within them. You can watch that special moment here.

Resisting Harmful Policies

In the U.S., the protest by Māori MPs echoes the urgency of resisting policies that harm marginalized communities. Under the leadership of figures like Donald Trump, we have seen an escalation in laws, bills, proposals and executive actions that target immigrants, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, Black people, and other people of color.

Likewise, we have witnessed a steady erosion of modest legislation originally designed to mitigate some of the ongoing impacts of injustices inflicted on Black people and other marginalized groups. These laws are now being twisted and weaponized to undermine the very causes they were intended to support. For instance, Affirmative Action and DEI programs—flawed as they may be and ironically benefiting white women the most—are being rolled back under the guise of combating discrimination against white and Asian people; e.g. the Dismantle DEI Act.

These policies are often justified with words on paper—bills, executive orders, or court decisions—designed to reinforce systems of power and privilege. The Māori MPs remind us that these pieces of paper are not sacred; they can and must be challenged. Whether through organized protests, legislative advocacy, or community action, we must tear apart the systems that uphold racism, sexism, and white supremacy. Resistance is our duty, and it starts with rejecting the narratives that normalize oppression.

Dismantling Injustice in the Workplace

The workplace is another arena where harmful systems and policies quietly dictate who thrives and who is excluded. From pay inequities to biased hiring practices, racism and sexism are embedded in many organizational structures. The courage shown by the Māori MPs inspires us to challenge these systems, not just through compliance with existing policies but by pushing for transformative change.

As someone who facilitates cross-cultural awareness workshops and community building dialogues, I’ve seen how embracing diversity and challenging workplace norms can lead to profound positive changes. It’s time to ask: What harmful policies exist in your workplace? What outdated systems need to be torn apart and rewritten? Let’s draw inspiration from the Māori MPs and work toward rebuilding systems that prioritize equity and respect for all.

Reclaiming Culture as Resistance

For those of us from Africa and other formerly colonized nations, the protest by Māori MPs is a powerful reminder of the importance of embracing our culture. Many of us have been raised to believe that success lies in distancing ourselves from our heritage—to adopt Western ideals, erase our languages, and silence our traditions. Yet this act of resistance shows us that culture is not a hindrance; it is a source of strength.

As an avid world traveler, polyglot, and cultural enthusiast, I’ve seen how deeply culture shapes identity and resilience. Our traditions are not just remnants of the past; they are tools for shaping our future. By embracing our roots - through art, language, and community practices - we affirm our place in the world and reject the systems that sought to erase us. Cultural pride is an act of defiance and a step toward self-actualization.

Challenging Western Perceptions of Culture and Professionalism: Making Room for Dance in the Boardroom

The look on the face of the white male speaker presiding during the Māori protest, Jerry Brown Lee, and the fact that he suspended the parliament within less than a minute of the protest starting and later suspended the MP who started it is a powerful reflection of how Western perspectives often diminish the significance of cultural expression. To many, the idea that something like dance or art could influence policy or systems seems ridiculous. Nowadays, music, dance, art, and even comedy are often relegated to the margins, viewed as inconsequential or "unprofessional," especially in professional settings.

This mindset limits our individual and organizational capabilities. We are encouraged to "bring our whole selves to work" in theory, yet in practice, we are often required to leave our culture and other valuable skills - those seen as inferior or unprofessional - at the door. By doing so, we miss out on the full potential of what these powerful tools can achieve. Dance, music, art, and storytelling have the ability to inspire, heal, and transform, even in boardrooms, executive committees, and halls of Congress. The haka is proof of this power. The haka protest brought instant global attention to the issue (the proposed harmful bill threatening Māori rights) and sparked a wave of solidarity worldwide, with people performing the haka across various countries in solidarity. This global response amplified the urgency of the cause and underscored the haka's power to unite people in resistance and justice.

Incorporating storytelling, music, dance, art, and community building into my work has allowed me to make learning more desirable, relatable, memorable, and applicable. These tools not only help transform hearts and minds but also build more inclusive communities and help individuals and organizations move beyond rhetoric to lasting transformation.

A Universal Call to Action

At its core, the Māori MPs’ protest is a call to all of us. It reminds us that injustice does not exist in isolation—it is woven into policies, workplaces, and the erasure of culture. But it also reminds us that resistance is within our power. By tearing apart harmful systems, rejecting oppressive policies, and reclaiming our heritage, we can build a future rooted in equity and dignity.

So let’s ask ourselves: What systems in our lives need to be dismantled? What harmful narratives are we upholding, and how can we rewrite them? Whether it’s in the workplace, in government, or in our own communities and spheres of influence, the time to act is now. Start by identifying one policy, system, or narrative that perpetuates inequity and commit to challenging it - whether through conversations, education, advocacy, or collective action. Let’s channel the energy of the Māori MPs, embrace our power, and tear apart injustice - one page, one policy, one system at a time.