Ties have fallen out of favor in many parts of the world in recent years. Now the New Zealand parliament has dropped their dress codes after Maori MP Rawiri Waititi took a stand against the ties, calling them “a colonial noose”.
Mr Waititi, co-leader of the Māori Party, was ousted from the legislature earlier this week after running for office. Instead, he wore a traditional pendant called hei-tiki, which House House spokesman Trevor Mallard said was “held in Maori business.”
Mr Mallard, who says he doesn’t like connections, did not accept the argument at first. “I don’t recognize the member, he’s leaving the room now,” he said as Mr. Waititi stood up to speak.
“It’s not about connections, it’s about cultural identity,” Mr Waititi countered as he left, adding to a flurry of discussions about the legacy of colonialism in New Zealand and a #note2 trend on Twitter before a House committee give up the rule and jacket Wednesday night.
The active or stopped confrontation came against the background of a wider reappearance of the Maori language and culture in recent years. The country’s indigenous population, which accounts for about 17% of its 5 million inhabitants, has become more active in preserving their heritage after being avoided for decades in some areas, the revival has inspired indigenous movements in Canada and elsewhere.