Massive protests held against New Zealand Māori bill
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Thousands of protesters marched on New Zealand's parliament to oppose the Treaty Principles Bill, arguing that it undermines Māori rights and the nation's foundational values.
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Members of the Maori community and their supporters march through the streets in a protest rally to criticize the government for its policies affecting the Indigenous Mori population in Wellington on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
Thousands protested at New Zealand's parliament in Wellington against a law that violates the country's foundational values and weakens Māori rights.
The Hīkoi mō te Tiriti march began nine days ago in New Zealand's far north and covered the length of the North Island, making it one of the country's largest rallies in recent decades.
The peaceful Māori walk, or hīkoi, culminated outside parliament on Tuesday. Protesters urged politicians to reject the contentious pact Principles Bill, which aims to redefine the 184-year-old pact between British colonists and hundreds of Māori tribes.
Māori protest in New Zealand against a bill to give equal rights to citizens of all races: pic.twitter.com/8n6SWfoeV9
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) November 19, 2024
The law is unlikely to pass since most parties have pledged to vote against it, but its introduction has sparked political instability and renewed a discussion over Indigenous rights in the country under the most right-wing administration in years.
During the hīkoi, some 42,000 people marched through Wellington, brandishing flags and banners and dressed in traditional Māori attire.
Attendees hailed the march as a "generational" occasion. "Today is a show of kotahitanga (unity), solidarity, and being one as a people to uphold our rights as Indigenous Māori," marcher Tukukino Royal told Reuters.
Protesters gathered outside parliament, known as the Beehive, while legislators debated the contentious issue.
Last week, Māori parliamentarians disrupted voting on a measure by doing the traditional haka dance.
The Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840 by the colonial British ruler and 500 Māori chiefs, establishes co-governance principles for Indigenous and non-Indigenous New Zealanders.
The treaty is regarded as one of the country's foundational documents, and the interpretation of its provisions continues to shape legislation and policy today.
The treaty was signed in two languages: Māori (Te Tiriti) and English. However, the differences in language have led to debates regarding its definition and interpretation.
Unlike the United States, New Zealand lacks a written constitution, relying on the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, which have evolved over the past 40 years. The treaty aims to protect Māori interests and their relationship with the British Crown, with courts addressing Māori disenfranchisement and social inequities.
David Seymour, leader of the far-right ACT Party, introduced the Treaty Principles Bill, arguing that the treaty’s principles should apply to all New Zealanders, not just Māori, without altering the original wording. Supporters claim it would prevent preferential treatment of Māori, while opponents, including politicians and protesters, argue it could undermine Māori rights.
Protests erupted when Seymour was greeted outside Parliament, with Māori leader Eru Kapa-Kingi declaring, "Te Tiriti is forever" and others crying " "kill the bill, kill the bill" as he briefly came out of parliament on Tuesday to speak with the protesters.
