A bill to rewrite indigenous rights brings tens of thousands of protesters to New Zealand’s parliament

WELLINGTON – Tens of thousands of New Zealanders gathered outside parliament on Tuesday in one of the country’s largest protests against a bill that opponents say seeks to erode Maori rights and threatens to restore decades-old race relations.

Large crowds of an estimated 35,000 police gathered in parliament where the Treaty Principles Bill was introduced earlier this month by whites seeking to reinterpret the 184-year-old treaty signed between the British and Maori.

New Zealand’s libertarian ACT party, a junior partner in the ruling centre’s coalition government, wants to introduce a narrow interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi that it says discriminates against non-indigenous citizens.

Although the bill does not have enough support to pass, critics see in it a desire to reverse decades of policies aimed at empowering Maori, who make up about 20 percent of the 5.3 million people and are overrepresented in measures of social deprivation.

Tens of thousands began chanting “kill the bill” as ACT leader David Seymour walked out of parliament in front of a crowd.

“I’m here to help my grandchildren, my children and their children,” said Hoana Hadfield from Wellingtonwho was marching for the first time in the protest.

“I think it’s important that we keep our kaupapa which is our values ​​as Maori and our culture and it’s a really big thing for us to have cultural identity.“

Some people in the crowd wore traditional hats and feathered coats and carried Maori weapons, while others wore T-shirts that read Toitu te Tiriti (Respect the Treaty).

The protest was preceded by a nine-day march, or hikoi, that began in the north of the country, where thousands joined rallies in towns and cities as marchers traveled south on foot and by car to Wellington.

First signed in 1840 between the British Crown and more than 500 Aboriginal Maori chiefs, the Treaty sets out how the two sides agreed to govern.

The interpretation of clauses in this document still guides law and policy today, with court decisions and a separate Maori tribunal expanding the rights and privileges of Maori over the decades.

ACT’s allies, the National Party and New Zealand First, have agreed to support the bill through the first three readings but both say they will not support it to become law.

A small number of politicians from the ruling National Party will be available to meet with the hikoi leaders, while Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is still deciding how to join them, a government spokesman said.

Abby Collier, 42, had traveled six hours from her home in Tairawhiti to take part in Tuesday’s protest. He said he supports this movement because he believes that unity is important.

“We’re going out across the country and showing our kids we can have a positive impact with kindness,” Ms. Collier said. – Reuters