Radio Free never accepts money from corporations, governments or billionaires – keeping the focus on supporting independent media for people, not profits. Since 2010, Radio Free has supported the work of thousands of independent journalists, learn more about how your donation helps improve journalism for everyone.

Make a monthly donation of any amount to support independent media.





Hīkoi mō te Tiriti day one: ‘Lets make this hīkoi build a nation’

RNZ News From the misty peaks of Cape Reinga to the rain-soaked streets of Kawakawa, Aotearoa New Zealand’s national hīkoi mō Te Tiriti rolled through the north and arrived in Whangārei. Since setting off this morning numbers have swelled from a couple of hundred to well over 1000 people, demonstrating their opposition to the coalition

RNZ News

From the misty peaks of Cape Reinga to the rain-soaked streets of Kawakawa, Aotearoa New Zealand’s national hīkoi mō Te Tiriti rolled through the north and arrived in Whangārei.

Since setting off this morning numbers have swelled from a couple of hundred to well over 1000 people, demonstrating their opposition to the coalition government’s controversial Treaty Principles Bill and other policies impacting on Māori.

Hundreds gathered for a misty covered dawn karakia at Te Rerenga Wairua, the very top of the North Island, after meeting at the nearby town of Te Kāo the night before.

Among them was veteran Māori rights activist and former MP Hone Harawira. He says the hīkoi is about protesting against a “blitzkreig of oppression” from the government and uplifting Māori.

Harawira praised organisers of the hīkoi and set out his own hopes for the march.

“It’s been a great start to the day . . .  to come here to Te Rerenga Wairua with people from all around the country and just join together, have a karakia, have some waiata and start to move on. We’re ready to go and Wellington is waiting — we can’t keep them waiting.

“One of our kuia said it best last night. The last hīkoi built a party — the Māori Party — [but] let’s make this hīkoi build a nation. Let us focus on that,” Harawira said.

Margie Thomson and her partner James travelled from Auckland to join the hīkoi.

She said as a Pākeha, she was gutted by some of the government policies toward Māori and wanted to show support.

The national hīkoi passes through Kaitaia on 11 November 2024.
The national hīkoi passes through Kaitaia. Image: Peter de Graaf

“The spirit of the people here is really profound . . . if people could feel they would really see the reality of the kāupapa here — the togetherness. This is really something, there is a really strong Māori movement and you really feel it.”

By lunchtime the hīkoi had reached Kaiatia where numbers swelled to well over 1000 people. The main street had to be closed to traffic while supporters filled the streets with flags, waiata and haka.

Tahlia, 10, made sure she had the best viewl, as people lined the streets as Te Hīkoi mō te Tiriti draws closer to Kawakawa, on its first day, 11 November, 2024.
Tahlia, 10, made sure she had the best view, as people lined the streets as Te Hīkoi mō te Tiriti drew closer to Kawakawa, on the first day, 11 November, 2024. Image: RNZ/Peter de Graaf

The hīkoi arrived in Whangārei this evening after covering a distance of around 280 km.

Kākā Porowini marae in central Whangārei was hosting some of the supporters and its chair, Taipari Munro, said they were prepared to care for the masses

“Hapu are able to pull those sorts of things together. But of course it will build as the hīkoi travels south.

“The various marae and places where people will be hosted, will all be under preparation now.”

Hirini Tau, Hirini Henare and Mori Rapana lead the hīkoi through Kawakawa, on 11 November, 2024.
Hirini Tau, Hirini Henare and Mori Rapana lead the hīkoi through Kawakawa today. Image: RNZ/Peter de Graaf

Three marae have been made available for people to stay at in Whangārei and some kai will also be provided, he said.

Meanwhile, the Māori Law Society has set up a phone number to provide free legal assistance to marchers taking part in the hīkoi.

Spokesperson Echo Haronga said Māori lawyers wanted to support the hīkoi in their own way.

“This helpline is a demonstration of our manaakitanga as Māori legal professionals wanting to tautoko those people who are on the hīkoi. If a question arises for them, they’re not quite sure how handle it during the hīkoi then they know they can call this number they can speak to a Māori lawyer.”

Ngāti Hine Health Trust staff, and others, wait to welcome Te Hīkoi mō te Tiriti, as it draws closer to Kawakawa, on its first day, 11 November, 2024.
Ngāti Hine Health Trust staff and others wait to welcome Te Hīkoi mō te Tiriti, as it drew closer to Kawakawa today. Image: RNZ/Peter de Graaf

Haronga stressed that she did not anticipate any issues or disturbances with the police and the helpline was open to any questions or concerns not just police and criminal enquiries.

“It’s not actually limited to people causing a ruckus and being in trouble with the police, it also could be someone who has a question . . . and they wouldn’t know otherwise where to go to, you can also call us for that if it’s in relation to hīkoi business.”

Hīkoi supporters will stay in Whangārei for the night before travelling to Dargaville and Auckland’s North Shore tomorrow.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.


This content originally appeared on Asia Pacific Report and was authored by APR editor.


Print Share Comment Cite Upload Translate Updates

Leave a Reply

APA

APR editor | Radio Free (2024-11-11T08:41:06+00:00) Hīkoi mō te Tiriti day one: ‘Lets make this hīkoi build a nation’. Retrieved from https://www.radiofree.org/2024/11/11/hikoi-mo-te-tiriti-day-one-lets-make-this-hikoi-build-a-nation/

MLA
" » Hīkoi mō te Tiriti day one: ‘Lets make this hīkoi build a nation’." APR editor | Radio Free - Monday November 11, 2024, https://www.radiofree.org/2024/11/11/hikoi-mo-te-tiriti-day-one-lets-make-this-hikoi-build-a-nation/
HARVARD
APR editor | Radio Free Monday November 11, 2024 » Hīkoi mō te Tiriti day one: ‘Lets make this hīkoi build a nation’., viewed ,<https://www.radiofree.org/2024/11/11/hikoi-mo-te-tiriti-day-one-lets-make-this-hikoi-build-a-nation/>
VANCOUVER
APR editor | Radio Free - » Hīkoi mō te Tiriti day one: ‘Lets make this hīkoi build a nation’. [Internet]. [Accessed ]. Available from: https://www.radiofree.org/2024/11/11/hikoi-mo-te-tiriti-day-one-lets-make-this-hikoi-build-a-nation/
CHICAGO
" » Hīkoi mō te Tiriti day one: ‘Lets make this hīkoi build a nation’." APR editor | Radio Free - Accessed . https://www.radiofree.org/2024/11/11/hikoi-mo-te-tiriti-day-one-lets-make-this-hikoi-build-a-nation/
IEEE
" » Hīkoi mō te Tiriti day one: ‘Lets make this hīkoi build a nation’." APR editor | Radio Free [Online]. Available: https://www.radiofree.org/2024/11/11/hikoi-mo-te-tiriti-day-one-lets-make-this-hikoi-build-a-nation/. [Accessed: ]
rf:citation
» Hīkoi mō te Tiriti day one: ‘Lets make this hīkoi build a nation’ | APR editor | Radio Free | https://www.radiofree.org/2024/11/11/hikoi-mo-te-tiriti-day-one-lets-make-this-hikoi-build-a-nation/ |

Please log in to upload a file.




There are no updates yet.
Click the Upload button above to add an update.

You must be logged in to translate posts. Please log in or register.