Tens of thousands of people have marched through Wellington as Hīkoi mō te Tiriti packed out Parliament’s grounds today.
Hikoi: Thousands march through Lambton Quay
Police estimated about 42,000 people were participating in the march, organised by Toitū te Tiriti, many of who oppose the Government’s Treaty Principles Bill, which passed its first reading last week during a fiery vote in Parliament.
Crowds engulfed the Parliament grounds which quickly reached capacity, with thousands spilling out onto surrounding streets in the CBD
A hīkoi for the generations
1News political editor Maiki Sherman reports from Parliament as tens of thousands of people converged for Hīkoi mō te Tiriti.
Several of those participating told 1News why they came out to support the hīkoi.
“This is a crucial part of our history. It needs to be honoured and it needs to be acknowledged. The partnership and the honouring of te Tiriti o Waitangi – that’s why we’re all here,” one woman said.
“I’m here because I’ve been summonsed here by my tupuna, because our Tiriti is a founding document. The principles should not be messed with at all,” another said.
“There’s so many people that are against the way that this bill has been put together and rushed through. That’s why I’m here – It says that it’s about equal rights for everyone and as you know us, as the Treaty partner, have nothing equal at the moment.”
Another added: “This is like one of those lifetime experiences to see the unity, that you can actually feel like in the air, the atmosphere of the kotahitanga.”
The bill’s proponent, ACT leader David Seymour, briefly appeared alongside his MPs on Parliament’s forecourt, to boos from the crowd and chants of “kill the bill” led by Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi
Hīkoi mō te Tiriti: Tens of thousands march to Parliament
The party leader later told media: “I felt these people had made a long journey to Parliament and we as Parliamentarians should be there to hear them.
“I have to say it was quite difficult to hear a lot of what was being said, but nonetheless I thought it was important to be out there.”
On if the hīkoi had shifted his position on his bill, he said: “If anything, it’s persuaded me that it’s even more important, that so many people have the opportunity to make submissions and talk about what the bill, and therefore our Treaty, actually means to us.”
Later, a petition with 203,653 signatures opposing Seymour’s bill was presented.
The nationwide hīkoi has been travelling towards the capital for nine days, traversing the length of New Zealand with groups beginning their trips from the Far North and Bluff.
The Māori Queen, Nga wai hono i te po, was among the tens of thousands in the hīkoi.
Wellington police said there have been “no issues” and that hīkoi marchers have been “peaceful” today, however, there is disruption to transport across parts of the CBD.
Hīkoi a ‘significant day’ – Luxon
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said it was a “significant day”, adding he didn’t have any regrets about agreeing to support the Treaty Principles legislation through first reading.
“We don’t support the bill and it won’t be becoming law,” he said. “There is a strong depth of emotion on all sides of this debate.
Māori Queen Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō joins hīkoi
Asked about whether he would meet with the hīkoi organisers, the PM said: “I was open to doing so, but the reality frankly is that many of them are Te Pāti Māori affiliated.”
“But my message more importantly to the hīkoi in general is that our longstanding position … is we don’t support the bill and it won’t be becoming law.”
‘The world is watching us’ – Te Pāti Māori MP
Several speakers addressed the crowd at Parliament this afternoon.
Ngāti Toa chief executive Helmut Modlik spoke after a performance by Stan Walker.
“To those who will divide us, whānau, it is too late. We are already one people,” he said
Haka interrupts vote on Treaty Principles Bill
Later, Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, who attracted global attention for participating in a haka in Parliament, told the crowd gathered “the world is watching”.
“This march was never about the bill. I ripped that in half and chucked it away. This march was about us walking, marching side by side, generation by generation. This bill divides us as a country. The Treaty unites us of all ages and all races,” she said.
“The world is watching us — te iwi Maori. Whatever we do next, all indigenous people are relying on us. It’s not just about us te iwi Maori.”
‘Busiest day ever’ on city trains as hīkoi peaceful
Wellington regional transport committee chairperson Thomas Nash said up to 40,000 people used the city’s main train station this morning
Hīkoi participants perform haka near Wellington train station
The group stopped outside the train station after coming into the city from Petone. (Source: 1News)
Nash said that normally on a busy weekday, 17,000 people would be using the network. He said it was possibly the “busiest day” the city’s train network has ever had.
The hīkoi remained a “peaceful” event, according to Wellington Police Commander Superintendent Corrie Parnell, who said police were reporting “no issues”.
“Members of the public can expect to see a continued Police presence across the city, to ensure the safety of those involved in the hikoi as well as other members of the community,” he said
Early start for many heading to Hīkoi mō te Tiriti
“Participants are expected to be on Parliament grounds until mid-afternoon, before heading back to Waitangi Park for an event to conclude the day.”
Parnell is reminding Wellingtonians that transport delays will continue through the day.
“We ask everyone to remain aware of the disruption through the city as the afternoon progresses and ask that everybody exercises patience to ensure safety.”
