On November 19, 2024, over 40,000 people gathered outside New Zealand’s Parliament to protest a controversial bill that aims to reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s founding document between British colonizers and the Māori people.
This massive demonstration, marking the culmination of a nine-day hīkoi (peaceful protest), highlighted the deep divisions in New Zealand society concerning indigenous rights and the treatment of Māori communities in the modern era.
The bill, known as the Treaty Principles Bill, seeks to legally redefine the principles of the 1840 Treaty, which has been central to New Zealand’s race relations and policies on indigenous rights.
The Treaty Principles Bill: A Threat to Māori Rights?
The Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840 between the British Crown and Māori chiefs, is regarded as the cornerstone of New Zealand’s relationship with its indigenous people.
Over the years, it has been the basis for legal frameworks that recognize and protect Māori rights, particularly in areas such as land ownership and resource management. The Treaty’s principles have been interpreted as ensuring a partnership between Māori and the Crown, but recent political movements have challenged this interpretation.
The Treaty Principles Bill, introduced by the Act Party, argues that New Zealand should reinterpret the Treaty in light of the country’s multicultural society. It seeks to establish a new legal definition of the Treaty’s principles, which, critics argue, could undermine the rights of Māori people that were guaranteed by the original document.
For many Māori and their allies, the bill represents an attempt to weaken the Treaty’s protections and erase the historical injustices suffered by Māori communities under colonial rule. Māori leaders and activists see the bill as a direct challenge to the rights and dignity of the indigenous population, which has long fought for recognition and justice.
David Seymour, the leader of the Act Party and a Māori descendant, has defended the bill by arguing that the Treaty’s current interpretation fosters division rather than unity.
Read : Once Again, New Zealand’s Youngest MP Leads Traditional Māori Dance in Parliament: Watch
Seymour has suggested that the focus on ancestry and Māori identity perpetuates racial divisions in New Zealand. According to Seymour, every New Zealander, regardless of their heritage, should be treated equally and not be subject to special privileges or historical grievances.
Māori protest in New Zealand against a bill to give equal rights to citizens of all races: pic.twitter.com/8n6SWfoeV9
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) November 19, 2024
However, opponents of the bill believe that it ignores the reality of New Zealand’s history and the ongoing challenges faced by Māori communities. They argue that the Treaty’s principles must continue to guide New Zealand’s approach to race relations and the protection of Māori rights.
This ongoing debate underscores the tensions between those who advocate for a more inclusive, multicultural interpretation of the country’s past and those who believe in preserving the rights and status of indigenous peoples.
The Hīkoi: A Powerful Display of Solidarity and Resistance
The protest on November 19 was the culmination of a powerful and historic hīkoi, which saw thousands of people marching through the streets of New Zealand to express their opposition to the Treaty Principles Bill. The hīkoi, a traditional Māori protest march, has become a symbol of indigenous resistance in New Zealand, and this latest iteration was one of the largest in the country’s history.
Participants in the hīkoi came from all walks of life—Māori and non-Māori alike—united in their opposition to the bill and their commitment to defending Māori rights. Many protesters were draped in the colors of the Māori flag, a symbol of pride and solidarity for the Māori people.
The hīkoi swelled to an estimated 40,000 strong, easily surpassing the 5,000-strong crowd that protested for land rights in 1975 and more than double the size of the 2004 protest for shore and sea ownership rights.
The protest was not just a demonstration of opposition to the bill; it was a statement of unity and strength from the Māori community and its allies.
The rally included a haka, a traditional Māori war dance, which participants performed in front of Parliament. The haka, often performed at significant moments in Māori culture, was a show of defiance and determination, symbolizing the resilience of the Māori people in the face of what they see as an attack on their rights.
At the head of the march was the Māori Queen Ngā Wai hono i te pō, who led the protestors into the grounds surrounding the Beehive, New Zealand’s parliamentary building. As the crowds gathered outside Parliament, the sense of solidarity and purpose was palpable. For many Māori, the hīkoi was a way to stand up for their ancestors, their culture, and their future.
Political Reactions and Future Implications
The political reactions to the Treaty Principles Bill have been mixed, with significant divisions even within the governing coalition. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, leader of the center-right National Party, stated that his party would not support the bill beyond its second reading, effectively ensuring it would not become law. This statement came as a relief to many Māori activists, who were concerned that the bill might pass into law despite widespread opposition.
Luxon’s comments came despite the National Party’s coalition with the Act Party, which introduced the bill. The complexity of the situation highlights the tension within New Zealand’s political landscape, where issues of Māori rights are often hotly contested. Luxon’s refusal to support the bill beyond the second reading reflects the ongoing political and public pressure to protect Māori rights and the Treaty’s principles.
However, the divisions are likely to continue, and the bill will remain a point of contention in New Zealand politics. Māori leaders, such as Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, co-leader of the Māori Party, have expressed concerns that the government is undermining the hard-won rights of indigenous people.
Ngarewa-Packer argued that the bill’s introduction was part of a larger effort to divide the country and diminish Māori rights, calling the move “embarrassing” for a country that has long been seen as a leader in indigenous rights.
For many Māori, the bill is just the latest in a series of political and social challenges to their status and rights in New Zealand. Despite New Zealand’s reputation as a progressive nation, Māori communities still face significant social and economic inequalities. Many Māori activists argue that the government must do more to address these disparities and protect the rights of indigenous people, rather than eroding them further.
The protest on November 19, 2024, was a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by Māori communities in New Zealand. Over 40,000 people marched to Parliament to show their opposition to the Treaty Principles Bill, a proposal that many see as a threat to the rights and dignity of Māori people.
The hīkoi was not just about the bill itself; it was a statement of unity, pride, and resistance in the face of what many Māori see as an ongoing attack on their culture and rights. As the political debate over the bill continues, it is clear that the Māori community will not back down from its fight to protect the Treaty’s principles and secure a better future for future generations.
As the discussions and divisions continue, New Zealand will need to grapple with its history and the ongoing responsibility it has to its indigenous peoples. The outcome of this protest and the political decisions that follow will shape the nation’s future and its commitment to justice and equality for all New Zealanders.
let’s enjoy few years on earth with peace and happiness….✍🏼🙏