Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke Honoured at TIME 100 Next Awards in New York for Global Indigenous Leadership
New Zealand’s youngest Member of Parliament, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, has been honoured in New York City after being named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Next — a global list recognising emerging leaders who are shaping the future.
At just 22 years old, the Te Pāti Māori MP was celebrated for her bold leadership and powerful advocacy for indigenous rights. TIME described Maipi-Clarke as one of the world’s most “influential rising political stars,” citing her unapologetic activism and fearless approach to equality and justice.
“True influence knows no age,” TIME wrote. “It can arrive early in a career — and Maipi-Clarke has already shaken the world.”
From Parliament to Global Recognition
Maipi-Clarke captured international attention in November 2024 when she performed a haka in Parliament during debate on the Treaty Principles Bill, which proposed changes to how Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) is interpreted in law.
After ripping up a copy of the bill, she led the Ka Mate haka alongside Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, and Labour MP Peeni Henare. The moment went viral worldwide — viewed more than 700 million times online — and became a symbol of cultural pride and defiance.
A Tribute from Deb Haaland
Among those recognising Maipi-Clarke’s impact was Deb Haaland, the first Native American U.S. Cabinet Secretary, who wrote a tribute for TIME.
“Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke shook the world when she stood up on New Zealand’s Parliament floor in protest last November,” Haaland wrote. “It wasn’t just any protest — it was a haka: a traditional Māori dance. The indigenous power and pride in that room brought tears to my eyes.”
Haaland praised Maipi-Clarke as part of a “global shift” of indigenous peoples reclaiming leadership spaces once designed to exclude them.
“She follows in the footsteps of ancestors who sustained Māori language, traditions, and culture to survive against treacherous odds,” Haaland said. “She represents something that rings true: young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow — they are taking the helm now, fighting for the future they deserve.”
Breaking Political Ground
Maipi-Clarke made history in 2023, when at 21, she won the Waikato-Tainui Māori electorate, unseating veteran Labour MP Nanaia Mahuta and becoming New Zealand’s youngest MP in 170 years.
Her reach extends beyond Parliament — with more than 252,000 Instagram followers and 175,000 TikTok fans, she has used social media to connect with young voters and amplify indigenous voices globally.
Maipi-Clarke’s TIME 100 Next recognition follows another major international honour: in 2024, she was named One Young World Politician of the Year, an award recognising outstanding political leaders aged 18–35.
Standing Among Global Change-Makers
This year’s TIME 100 Next honourees include singer-songwriter Tate McRae, Bridgerton actor Jonathan Bailey, entrepreneur April Koh, Spanish football prodigy Lamine Yamal, and Ben Lamm, CEO of biotech company Colossal Biosciences.
For Maipi-Clarke, the New York recognition marks not just personal achievement but a global platform for indigenous leadership. As she said after receiving the award, “It’s not just about me — it’s about my people, my whakapapa, and showing that our voices belong on every world stage.”