New Zealand's youngest MP, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, has been honored with a Time 100 Next award in New York for her influential rise in politics. The magazine's list celebrates 100 emerging leaders who are shaping the global future across various fields. Maipi-Clarke's performance of a haka during a vote on the Treaty Principles Bill last year was described as a powerful moment that 'shook the world.'
At just 21 years old, Maipi-Clarke became the youngest MP in 170 years, beating a long-serving Labour minister. Her indigenous advocacy and dramatic display of ripping up the Treaty Principles Bill in Parliament in November 2024 further solidified her impact. The haka she led, 'Ka Mate,' went viral, amassing over 700 million views online. This act of defiance and cultural pride resonated globally, as noted by former US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, who praised Maipi-Clarke's courage and advocacy for indigenous rights.
Maipi-Clarke's influence extends beyond the political realm. She has garnered a significant social media following, with 252,000 Instagram followers and 175,000 TikTok fans. Her award from Time recognizes leaders driving change in equality and justice, and her actions have inspired a broader global shift, as Haaland mentioned, where indigenous peoples are reclaiming spaces designed to marginalize them.
Before her international recognition, Maipi-Clarke was already named the One Young World Politician of the Year, acknowledging her outstanding contributions as a young politician. The Time 100 Next awards also honored other notable figures, including singer-songwriter Tate McRae, actor Jonathan Bailey, businesswoman April Koh, Spanish soccer star Lamine Yamal, and Ben Lamm from Colossal Biosciences.
