New Zealand: thousands protest against new government policies that unravel Māori gains
GuardianNOV 20 2023
Hundreds of New Zealanders set off on a nine-day March to Wellington Monday, protesting the Treaty Principles Bill—now in parliament—that seeks to reinterpret the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi. Under the United for Te Tiriti banner, they want the government to “kill the bill.”Hundreds of people set off on a nine-day march to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, on Monday to protest the proposed Treaty Principles Bill that would narrow the interpretation of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi.
Organized by the Toitū te Tiriti (Honour the Treaty) advocacy group, the march began in Cape Rēinga in northern New Zealand, with the protesters looking to converge before parliament next Tuesday. As they move south, the protesters have scheduled rallies in towns like Auckland.
New Zealand's founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi guides the relations between the indigenous Maoris and the British Crown, upholding the former's rights. Associate Justice Minister David Seymour of the ACT New Zealand party introduced the new bill in Parliament last week.
If enacted, this bill will undermine the fundamental rights and protections afforded to the Māori people under the landmark Treaty of Waitangi while significantly weakening the legal avenues through which Māori can have their rights recognized, leading to social disruption and a concerning erosion of the delicate Māori-Crown relationship. This bill is likely to constitute the worst and most comprehensive breach of the Treaty in modern times.
The Treaty Principles Bill intends to uphold the fundamental principle of universal human rights enshrined in the Treaty of Waitangi — which has long been misinterpreted as creating a "partnership between races" — and ensure equality before the law for all New Zealanders, including Māori. Open and respectful dialogue is essential to finding a path forward that preserves the dignity and self-determination of every child growing up in the country.