In New Zealand, MP Raviri Waititi, who represents Maori aborigines in parliament, was expelled from the meeting for lack of a tie. Instead, the man put on the traditional hei-tiki jewelry, writes the New Zealand Herald.
During the meeting, Waititi tried to ask Speaker Trevor Mallard a question, but he replied that only parliamentarians with a tie have the right to ask questions. After several attempts by the deputy to speak out, as well as a fierce argument with the speaker, Waititi was kicked out of the conference room.
The Maori representative himself believes that they did this to him because of his unwillingness to follow the European style. In addition, he called the tie a “colonial noose”. “I will never give up my culture,” Waititi said, and said Mallard’s decision violated the rights of indigenous peoples.
It is noted that in the previous year the deputy had already been threatened to be expelled for lack of a tie.