The largest protest march in New Zealand history arrived at Parliament on Tuesday, filling the venue with songs of solidarity against controversial legislation that would reinterpret the country's founding treaty between Māori and the Crown.
Police said around 42,000 people took part in the march, believed to be the largest demonstration in support of Maori rights in New Zealand history.
If passed into law, the Treaty Principles Bill will fundamentally change the way the Treaty of Waitangi is interpreted. The Treaty is an agreement signed between more than 500 Maori chiefs and the Crown in 1840 and helps protect Maori rights.
The bill is a flagship policy of the minority Libertarian Law Party, which forms part of the coalition government, and seeks to remove established principles in favor of its own redefined principles.
As the first group of marchers arrived at parliament just before noon, the crowd stretched for about two kilometers across the city, painting the horizon with the red, white and black of the Tino Rangatiratanga flag, the national Māori flag. Demonstrators held placards and called on the government to honor the treaty and “repeal the bill,” and chants and haka broke out as people passed through the streets.
The Hikoi Mo Te Tiriti (March for Treaty) began nine days ago at Cape Reinga, the country's northernmost point, and has now wound its way across the North Island towards the capital, Wellington. In the wake of the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, the protests also called for a range of government policies that could impact Māori, and became a movement to celebrate Indigenous pride and culture.
“The Māori nation was born today,” El Kapa Kingi, who became the face of the protest, told the crowd. “I hope all of you who joined this march today understand what you have decided to do today. You have promised us a future where we return to the reality of Rangatira. [chiefs].
The bill does not have wide support and is unlikely to pass. But this has sparked widespread anger among the public, academics, lawyers and Māori rights groups who believe it creates division, undermines treaties and undermines the relationship between Māori and governing authorities.
The Law Committee will hear submissions on the bill, which is expected to take six months, before returning to Parliament for a second reading.
On Tuesday, organizers' calls for peaceful protests were heeded, with lively displays of joy and solidarity. Despite the crowd size, no disturbance was reported to police. Disturbed by what they saw as an attack on Māori rights, many non-Māori rallied to Hikoi's support.
Among them are Alice Soper participated in the march in Wellington. She said that while much of the protest was directed at the bill, it was also about broader government policies that risked rolling back Māori rights, including the dismantling of Māori health authorities.
“The current government has traded relationships with Māori to gain access to power. We have seen numerous attacks on Māori, but it's not just a Māori problem, it's a problem for all of us. .
“I've never seen a march this big in my life…and that says it all.”
Haley Komene, from the Ngāti Kaufata tribe, said there was “real strength and pride” in the march. “We have people here from all different backgrounds for the same reason: It’s beautiful.”
Mr Komene slammed the government's Māori policy, calling it “absolutely ridiculous”. “Te Tiriti is our constitutional document.”
Maori Queen Nga Wai Hono i Te Po was among those protesting.
“The Māori Queen is happy to help lead a dialogue about nation and national unity, but will not accept a unilateral process that undermines that.” [the treaty]” her publicist, Ngira Simmons, said in a statement on Monday.
The bill's architect, Act Party leader David Seymour, faced chants of “kill the bill” as he left parliament and appeared briefly before the march, waving his hand. However, I returned indoors.
talk to radio new zealand Afterwards, Mr Seymour said that although he thought it was important to be there, Hikoi did not represent New Zealand.
“There will always be people making noise outside,” he said. “At the end of the day, the overwhelming majority of New Zealanders are working and going to school, and I think they will be able to participate in this discussion in their own way.”
The Treaty of Waitangi Principles have been developed over 50 years by courts, tribunals and successive governments to guide the relationship between Māori and governing authorities and to resolve differences in interpretation of the original treaty's English and Māori texts. I did. Although many principles have been developed and continue to evolve, the most recognized principles are broadly defined as participation, partnership, protection, and redress. These principles are used in efforts to redress the significant social and economic inequalities faced by Māori.
The party says the current principles distort the original intent of the Treaty and create a twin system for New Zealanders, with the result that Māori have different political and legal rights and privileges than non-Māori. I think that's what happened. The party has regularly called for an end to “racial divisions.”
The bill came amid scathing speeches from opposition parties, multiple attempts to delay hearings and a haka led by Te Pati Māori MP Hana Rawhiti Maipi-Clark, who tore up copies of the bill. , passed its first reading last Thursday.
The introduction of the bill formed part of a coalition agreement between Act and National, the main centre-right party. Both the National Party and third coalition partner New Zealand First have ruled out supporting the bill after its first reading, meaning it is likely to be defeated next year. .
The night before Hikoi, Seymour told local media He did not believe his bill was divisive.
“I would argue that the divisions already exist. You say my bill is divisive, but I say this bill exposes the divisions that have been building for decades. I would say.”
