00:00 Hannah Rohiti Maipi-Clark, the 21-year-old Member of Parliament in New Zealand who made
00:09 history last October as the youngest MP in 170 years, is making headlines once again.
00:16 The lawmaker of Māori descent gained widespread attention for delivering a passionate speech
00:21 on Tuesday advocating for the rights of New Zealand's indigenous communities.
00:26 In her inaugural address, she expressed a deep commitment to her constituents, saying,
00:30 "I will die for you, but I will also live for you."
00:35 The impactful speech quickly went viral on the internet.
00:40 Addressing the Māori youth, Maipi-Clark encouraged them to embrace their native language and
00:44 cultural identity.
00:46 In her maiden speech, Maipi-Clark said, "Never fit in.
00:50 You are perfect.
00:51 You are the perfect fit.
00:52 I truly feel like I have already said my maiden speech outside the steps of the Parliament
00:56 last year for the 50th anniversary of Te Piti Hana.
01:00 I dedicated that speech to my grandparents.
01:02 However, this speech today is dedicated to all our children."
01:07 She was quoted as saying.
01:09 Hannah Rohiti Maipi-Clark considers herself as a guardian of the Māori language and emphasises
01:14 the crucial role of amplifying the voices of the new generation of Māori.
01:18 With a substantial following on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, Maipi-Clark
01:23 remains actively engaged in promoting Māori causes and advocating for the representation
01:28 of the younger Māori generation.
01:30 She firmly believes that it is time for the voices of this new generation to be recognised
01:34 and heard.
01:36 The traditional haka was historically a customary way to welcome visiting tribes and energise
01:40 warriors before battle.
01:42 Rooted in cultural pride, utility and resilience, the haka is not a conventional dance but a
01:47 powerful display of physical strength.
01:49 Typically performed in a group, it incorporates chanting, vigorous movements like stamping,
01:55 hand gestures and facial expressions.
01:57 The nature of the haka varies across tribal regions, often narrating significant events
02:02 within an ivy's history.
02:04 In contemporary times, the haka retains its significance as a symbol of reverence and
02:08 is performed during important occasions such as sporting events, weddings, funerals and
02:13 pāuhiri.
02:14 At the age of 21, Hāna Rohiti Maipi-Clark made history as New Zealand's youngest member
02:19 of parliament in 170 years during the recent national elections.
02:24 Her victory involved unseating Labour's Nanaina Mahuta, a highly respected and senior MP who
02:30 had held the Hauraki-Waikato Māori electorate for two decades and was the first Māori woman
02:36 to serve as a foreign affairs minister.
02:38 Originating from Huntly, situated between Auckland and Hamilton, Maipi-Clark oversees
02:43 a marakai, a Māori community garden that educates local children about gardening based
02:48 on the Māori lunar calendar known as Maramataka.
02:51 Despite her youth, Maipi-Clark's accomplishments are remarkable.
02:55 In addition to running a business, she authored a book encouraging young people to explore
02:59 the stars and the moon for self-healing.
03:01 Her lineage includes notable figures.
03:03 Her ancestor, Wirumu Katini, was the first Māori minister to the crown in 1872.
03:08 Her aunt, Hāna T. Himara, presented the Māori language petition to parliament in 1972.
03:14 And in 2018, her grandfather, Taitimu Maipi, gained attention for protesting against the
03:19 colonial legacy and mistreatment of Māori by vandalising a statue of Captain John Hamilton,
03:25 the city's namesake.
03:26 [Music]
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