ceremonial

After ripping up a copy of the bill in front of Seymour, Māori members who opposed the bill and some spectators in the gallery joined in the ceremonial dance.

Competitors weighed in behind closed doors on Thursday afternoon but weights were not made public until the ceremonial weigh-in later in the evening.

Opposition party MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke began the traditional ceremonial group dance after being asked whether her party supported the bill, which faced its first vote on Thursday.

“Now, dinner has become ceremonial to me. It’s so special. It’s a time that we can all sit down and really take a moment. I don’t do that otherwise.”

He joked about how he’d probably fall down if he attempted his look-to-the-heavens windup when throwing out the ceremonial first pitch opening day.