A vote in New Zealand’s parliament was suspended and two lawmakers ejected Thursday amid debate over a controversial proposed law redefining the country’s founding agreement between Indigenous Māori and the British Crown.

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 witnessed a powerful protest as opposition MPs performed a haka to oppose a controversial bill. The bill aims to redefine the Treaty of Waitangi, the country's founding document with the Māori people.