Thousands of protesters are marching towards Wellington, New Zealand, in opposition to a contentious bill that seeks to revise the 184-year-old Treaty of Waitangi, which grants land rights to Maori tribes. On November 15, approximately 10,000 people participated in a hikoi, or march, through Rotorua, waving Maori flags as they traveled south, with plans to reach the capital by Tuesday.
The proposed legislation, introduced by the ACT New Zealand party, aims to redefine the treaty and extend rights originally granted to Maori tribes to non-Indigenous citizens. Critics argue that this move could exacerbate racial tensions and undermine the rights of Indigenous peoples, who represent about 20% of New Zealand's population of 5.3 million.
The bill passed its first reading in Parliament on November 14, with a vote of 68 in favor and 54 against. However, its future remains uncertain, as key coalition partners, including the National Party and New Zealand First, only support it for the initial reading to honor an agreement with ACT New Zealand.
During the parliamentary debate, 22-year-old legislator Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke from the Te Pati Maori party protested by tearing up a copy of the bill and leading a traditional haka dance, prompting a brief suspension of proceedings as the public gallery joined in.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon emphasized the complexity of the treaty's principles, which have been debated for nearly two centuries, while ACT leader David Seymour accused opponents of attempting to incite fear and division.