Maori warriors lead tens of thousands in New Zealand protest

Tens of thousands of protesters including Maori warriors in traditional dress marched on New Zealand’s parliament Tuesday in opposition to a draft law that they say would erode the rights of Indigenous people.

The march, or "hikoi," began in the far north last week and culminated in the capital city of Wellington. Warriors wielding spears and clubs led protesters through the city streets to the steps of parliament buildings, where they sang and waved flags. Police said more than 35,000 attended the rally, which was peaceful.

Maori and their supporters are angered by a piece of legislation put forward by the libertarian ACT Party, a junior government coalition member, that seeks to define the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, the 1840 agreement between Maori chiefs and the British Crown that is considered the nation’s founding document.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s National Party has said it won’t support the bill past first reading, but allowing its introduction to parliament for debate has fueled racial tensions.

ACT leader David Seymour says the way the treaty is being interpreted by the courts gives greater rights to Maori on the basis of race. His bill seeks to define treaty principles to ensure that “everyone is equal before the law.”

But critics are scathing of what they see as an attempt to undermine a greater voice for Maori after decades of discrimination that has resulted in them being overrepresented in poverty and crime statistics.

“Far from promoting genuine equality, the bill represents a thinly veiled attempt to centralize power and resources, which will further marginalize Maori communities already impacted by historic and systemic inequities,” said Don Tamihere, archbishop of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.

The ACT Party, which got 8.6% of the vote at last year’s election, is one of three parties in a center-right coalition led by Luxon’s National Party. Luxon agreed to allow the introduction of the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill as part of negotiations to form the coalition government, but won’t support it into law.

It has nevertheless become a flash point for discontent with government policies that some consider anti-Maori, such as moves to reduce the prominence and use of Maori language in public departments.

Luxon reiterated Tuesday that National won’t support the bill becoming law.

“We don’t think through the stroke of a pen you go rewrite 184 years of debate and discussion,” he told reporters. “We think we are a better country because of that debate and discussion.”