WELLINGTON – Tens of thousands of new zealanders rallied outside parliament on tuesday in one of the country’s largest protests ever against the an account which opponents say seeks to dilute Maori rights and threatens to set race relations back decades.
Huge crowds, estimated by police at 35,000 people, gathered in parliament Treaty Principles Bill was introduced earlier this month by lawmakers seeking to reinterpret a 184-year-old treaty between British and indigenous Maori.
The libertarian ACT New Zealand party, a junior partner in the ruling center-right coalition government, is trying to enshrine a narrower interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi that it says discriminates against non-indigenous citizens.
While the bill does not have enough support to pass, critics see it as a desire to reverse decades of policies aimed at empowering Maori, who make up about 20% of the 5.3 million population and are overrepresented in measures of social deprivation.
Tens of thousands began chanting “kill the law” as ACT leader David Seymour walked out of parliament in front of the crowd.
“I’m here for my grandchildren, my children and their children,” Hoana Hadfield said from Wellingtonwho protested for the first time.
“I think it’s important that we maintain our kaupapa, which is our values as Maori and our culture, and it’s very important for us to have a cultural identity.“
Some people in the crowd were dressed in traditional attire with feather headdresses and cloaks and carried traditional Maori weapons, while others wore T-shirts reading Toitu te Tiriti (Honour the Treaty).
The protest was preceded by nine days mars or hikoiwhich started in the far north of the country, with thousands taking part in rallies in towns and cities as protesters traveled south to Wellington on foot and in cars.
The Treaty was first signed in 1840 between the British Crown and more than 500 indigenous Maori chiefs and sets out how the two parties agreed to govern.
The interpretation of the clauses in the document continues to guide legislation and policy today, with decisions by the courts and a separate Maori tribunal expanding Maori rights and privileges in recent decades.
ACT’s coalition partners, the National Party and New Zealand First, agreed to support the legislation at the first of three readings, but both have said they will not support it becoming law.
A small number of politicians from the ruling National Party will be available to meet with hikoi leaders, while Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has yet to decide how to engage, a government spokesman said.
Abby Collier, 42, had traveled six hours from her home in Tairawhiti to take part in Tuesday’s protest. She said she supported the movement because she believed unity was important.
“We come from all over the country and show our babies that through kindness we can have a positive impact,” Ms Collier said. – Reuters