Tens of thousands of people gathered in New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, on Tuesday for what is likely the largest-ever demonstration in support of Māori rights. The protest was against a proposed law that would alter the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, the founding agreement between the British Crown and the Indigenous Māori people.
Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, a lawmaker from Te Pāti Māori, addressed the crowd after being temporarily suspended from Parliament for performing a haka during the vote on the bill. The protest also celebrated the resurgence of Māori language and identity, which had been severely impacted by colonization.
The proposed bill seeks to change the meaning of the Treaty’s principles, potentially limiting their application to Māori alone. Protesters were united in their belief that the law would undo decades of progress toward Māori empowerment and sovereignty. Maipi-Clarke emphasized Māori rights to self-determination, declaring that the Indigenous people of New Zealand would not allow others to dictate their rights.
While the bill currently lacks sufficient support to pass, the protest highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by Māori people, who represent around 20% of New Zealand’s population but continue to suffer from significant social and economic disparities. The protest followed a nationwide nine-day march, culminating in the capital, drawing attention to the country’s historical breaches of the Treaty and the need for continued action to address inequities.
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