Maori MPs ‘mockingly swear allegiance to King Charles by calling him King Skin Rash’ at the opening of New Zealand parliament

Maori politicians mockingly pledged their allegiance to King Charles at the opening of New Zealand's parliament on Tuesday by calling him 'King Skin Rash'.

Three lawmakers from the Te Pāti Māori Party, the smallest in the parliament representing the Māori people, called him 'Kīngi harehare', instead of using the Māori name for him, which is 'Kīngi Tiāre'.

'Harehare' is a derogatory term in Maori meaning 'rash' or 'sore'. According to the Māori dictionary, it can also imply something 'objectionable' and 'offensive'.

All New Zealand MPs must swear allegiance to King Charles, as he is officially the head of state of the Commonwealth.

But the Te Pāti Māori Party opposes the oath, claiming it is symbolic of colonial power that New Zealand's parliament overrides the status of indigenous people. The party also supports the removal of King Charles as head of state of New Zealand.

Three Te Pāti Māori Party lawmakers mockingly called him 'Kīngi harehare', instead of using the Māori name for him, 'Kīngi Tiāre'. Pictured: Te Pati Maori co-leader Rawiri Waiti in the New Zealand parliament on Tuesday

'Harehare' is a derogatory term in Māori meaning 'rash' or 'sore', as well as 'offensive' and 'offensive', according to the Māori Dictionary

The Te Pāti Māori Party opposes this, claiming the oath is symbolic of colonial power placing Parliament above the status of indigenous people.

All New Zealand MPs must swear allegiance to King Charles, as he is officially the country's head of state

Te Pāti Māori politicians also broke protocol by first pledging allegiance to their descendants and to the country's founding document.

They each made a pledge to their 'mokopuna', or descendants, to 'tikanga', or Maori practices, and to the Maori version of the Treaty of Waitangi.

The Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840, established a set of principles under which the British and Maori agreed to rule New Zealand. But the English and Maori versions differ and there is debate as to whether the Maori ceded sovereignty.

Critics of the party said Te Pāti Māori mocked the king, who plans to visit the country next year.

“They're trying to make fun of the transliteration 'hare', which, if you pronounce it 'harehare', is kind of a transliteration of Charlie, but also means something objectionable,” said Shane Jones, New Zealand's first MP.

David Seymour, leader of the libertarian party ACT New Zealand, dismissed the demonstrations as “divisive theater performances.”

Te Pāti Māori politicians also broke protocol by first pledging allegiance to their descendants and to the country's founding document

King Charles plans to visit the country next year

“New Zealanders have elected a government that treats people equally, regardless of their race,” he said.

There has been debate for some time about whether the Pacific nation should become a republic, with a citizen as head of state.

In some indigenous communities this feeling is stronger, both in New Zealand and elsewhere, because the king is a symbol of colonization.

In 2022, Indigenous Australian parliamentarian Lidia Thorpe had to retake her parliamentary oath after changing it to label the late queen as a colonizer.

A number of New Zealand politicians have previously tried to avoid the oath, but relented so they could participate in government.