A heated protest erupted in New Zealand’s parliament on Thursday as Maori lawmakers performed a haka to oppose a controversial bill aiming to redefine the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi.

New Zealand’s Parliament was temporarily suspended on Thursday as Māori lawmakers performed a haka, a traditional group dance, demonstrating their community’s anger and fear over a bill that aims to reinterpret the country’s founding treaty with its Indigenous people.

New Zealand's parliament was brought to a temporary halt by MPs performing a haka, amid anger over a controversial bill seeking to reinterpret the country's founding treaty with Māori people.