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Large crowd protests against Māori law in New Zealand
Thousands of people demonstrated in front of the New Zealand Parliament against the controversial Māori law, which could endanger the rights of the indigenous population. Here is the most important information.
Large crowd protests against Māori law in New Zealand
Thousands of people demonstrated outside New Zealand's Parliament in Wellington against a law that critics see as an attack on the country's fundamental principles and diluting Māori rights. TheHīkoi mō te Tiriti-Mars began nine days ago in New Zealand's far north and crossed the entire North Island in one of the country's largest protests in recent decades.
The climax of the protests
The traditional peaceful Māori march known asHīkoi, culminated on Tuesday outside Parliament, where protesters urged lawmakers to abandon the controversialLaw on the Principles of Contractreject. This law aims to reinterpret the 184-year-old treaty between British colonial rulers and hundreds of Māori tribes.
Political implications and debates
The bill is not expected to pass as most parties have committed to voting against it. Still, the introduction of the law has sparked political unrest and reignited a debate over Indigenous rights in New Zealand as the country is ruled by the most right-wing government in years.
The protest march in Wellington
Massive crowds marched as part of theHīkoithrough the New Zealand capital. Participants waved flags and signs and wore traditional clothing alongside members of the Māori community. Police estimated that about 42,000 people, a significant number in a country of around 5 million people, marched toward Parliament to protest against the law.
Cross-generational support
Participants describe the march as a “generational” moment. “Today is a sign ofkotahitanga(Unity), solidarity and our coming together as a people to defend our rights as indigenous Māori,” participant Tukukino Royal told Reuters.
Historical significance of the Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a document signed in 1840 between the British colonial regime and 500 Māori chiefs, establishing principles of co-government between Indigenous and non-Indigenous New Zealanders. The treaty is considered one of the country's founding documents, and the interpretation of its clauses continues to shape laws and policies today.
The document exists in two versions - in Māori (Te Tiriti) and English - which contain different wording and have long given rise to debates over the definition and interpretation of the treaty.
Content of the law
The Treaty Principles Bill was introduced by David Seymour, leader of the right-wing populist ACT New Zealand party, which serves as the junior coalition partner of the ruling National and New Zealand First parties. Seymour says he does not want to change the text of the original treaty, but calls for its principles to be defined in law and binding on all New Zealanders, not just Māori.
Broad resistance to the law
However, the law is widely disputed by both government and opposition MPs, as well as thousands of Indigenous and non-Indigenous New Zealanders. Critics fear it could undermine Māori rights.
As Seymour briefly left Parliament on Tuesday to approach the crowds, he was greeted with shouts of "Kill the bill, kill the bill," CNN affiliate Radio New Zealand reported. Hīkoi leader Eru Kapa-Kingi told the crowd that "the Māori nation was born today" and that "Te Tiriti will endure forever," RNZ reported.