It started at the northern tip of the North Island and gained momentum as it moved down the country. By march – or Hikoi – It was concluded nine days later in front of Parliament in Wellington, with 42,000 participants and considered one of the largest in New Zealand history. The demonstrations were sparked by what critics say is an attempt by the right-wing government to fundamentally redraw the relationship between Māori and the state.
lawyer and activist Annette SykesMāori participants in the march said it was a moment of unity for Māori people, but also showed the strength of national sentiment over the potential rollback of hard-won rights. She said she felt the new ruling coalition was putting forward divisive policies that were “actually trying to destroy the sense of unity and mutual respect that we have built as a nation”.
Eva CorlettThe Guardian's New Zealand correspondent explains how the relationship between Maori people and the state has always been guided by treaties between Maori and the British Crown dating back to the 1840s. But the Coalition government believes the principles of the treaty are distorted and that the focus on Māori rights is unfair and does not make the country more equal. This has raised concerns that progress in closing the gap between socio-economic outcomes for Māori and New Zealanders as a whole will be lost. But Mr Sykes said the solidarity shown at the protests showed that “there is still a desire in the spirit of the average Mr. and Mrs. Smith to be united by values of mutual respect”.
