Wellington, New Zealand (DT) — Thousands of Maori protesters continued their determined march toward Wellington today, rallying against the Treaty Principles Bill, which they argue threatens indigenous rights and sovereignty.
The bill, currently being debated in Parliament, seeks to redefine the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, a move that Maori leaders say undermines Maori land claims and environmental protections.
This nine-day protest march, or hikoi, includes rallies in towns across the country and is expected to reach the national capital by Tuesday. An estimated 10,000 protesters gathered in Rotorua, around 450 kilometers north of Wellington, according to a New Zealand police statement. Protesters, some dressed in traditional Maori attire, were met by hundreds waving Maori flags and chanting in solidarity.
Yesterday, Indigenous Maori leaders staged a powerful haka — a traditional Maori dance historically used to challenge opponents — at the first parliamentary hearing on the bill. Demonstrators are calling on lawmakers to withdraw or amend the legislation, emphasizing that it disregards Maori ancestral ties to the land and their rights under the Treaty.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has called for open dialogue between Maori leaders and lawmakers, though he has yet to indicate any plans to amend the bill. The protests are expected to intensify as the hikoi approaches Wellington, with growing national debate over New Zealand’s commitment to honoring its indigenous heritage.
The Maori community and their supporters argue that the bill risks inciting racial tension and erodes the rights of New Zealand’s Indigenous people, who comprise about 20 percent of the nation’s 5.3 million population.
During a parliamentary vote on Thursday, 22-year-old legislator Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke of the Te Pati Maori party tore up a copy of the bill and led fellow members in a traditional haka. The impromptu demonstration prompted a brief suspension of Parliament as supporters in the gallery joined in, their chants overwhelming the chamber and halting the debate.
SOURCE : AGENCIES | Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |