Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke has earned global recognition after being featured by Time magazine as one of “the world’s most influential rising stars.”
Maipi-Clarke, who made history in 2023 as New Zealand’s youngest MP at the age of 21, was celebrated by Time for her courage, activism, and dedication to protecting Māori culture and rights. The magazine noted that she “shook the world” when she performed a haka during the vote on the Treaty Principles Bill last year, a moment that drew international attention to Māori voices in Parliament.
Writing for Time, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland praised Maipi-Clarke as a “link in the chain of activists who sacrificed for us and inspire us every day.” Haaland added that by using her platform, Maipi-Clarke “staved off attempts to disenfranchise communities and attack Indigenous rights,” representing the growing strength and leadership of young people around the world, RNZ reported.
Time highlighted Maipi-Clarke’s connection to her ancestors, who helped sustain Māori language, traditions, and culture, describing her as a modern symbol of cultural resilience and activism.
Her fearless approach in Parliament has not come without controversy. Earlier this year, Maipi-Clarke and other Te Pāti Māori MPs were suspended for seven days after being found to have “acted in a manner that could have the effect of intimidating a member of the House” during parliamentary proceedings, reported RNZ.
Before her haka drew global headlines, Maipi-Clarke had already been recognised internationally, receiving the One Young World Politician of the Year award for her positive impact on youth and communities. She also recently appeared in a music video with singer Stan Walker, further connecting her cultural advocacy with creative expression.
At just 23, Maipi-Clarke continues to embody a new generation of Indigenous leadership, one that blends tradition, activism, and modern influence on the world stage.