Chethana Janith, Jadetimes Staff
C. Janith is a Jadetimes news reporter covering science and geopolitics.
One of New Zealand’s largest ever protests in support of Maori rights drew 42,000 people to parliament.
Māori chants of the traditional "haka" echoed through New Zealand’s capital as tens of thousands rallied against a conservative proposal to redefine the nation’s founding treaty, sparking concerns over potential threats to Māori rights.
More than 42,000 demonstrators filled the streets of Wellington on Tuesday, police reported, bringing the city to a standstill as the passionate procession made its way towards parliament.
Bare-chested men adorned with traditional feather cloaks marched alongside horse riders carrying the red, white, and black Māori flag. Families, including children and elders, joined the march, some displaying the intricate full-face Māori moko tattoos and holding ceremonial wooden weapons.
The protests were triggered by a controversial bill introduced by a minor party in the governing conservative coalition, aiming to redefine the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi. Though the bill has little chance of passing, its introduction has sparked New Zealand’s largest demonstrations in decades.
Critics, including prominent legal experts, argue that the proposal undermines the long-established rights of the Māori, a community of nearly 900,000 people. Many see it as a direct attack on their cultural heritage and identity.
Protesters gathered outside New Zealand’s iconic beehive-shaped parliament building, where they gave impassioned speeches, played reggae music, and called on the government to address their concerns.
The movement gained momentum with a nine-day “hikoi” – a protest march – starting from New Zealand’s northernmost point, drawing thousands along the way.
Central to the controversy is David Seymour, a government minister and leader of the ACT Party. Seymour has frequently criticized affirmative action policies aimed at addressing the disparities faced by Māori, who continue to experience higher rates of poverty, imprisonment, and early mortality.
The proposed bill aims to roll back what its supporters describe as “special rights” granted under the Treaty of Waitangi.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has publicly opposed the bill, making its success in parliament highly unlikely. However, former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley warned that even introducing such a proposal could "divide New Zealand in a way I haven’t seen in my adult life."
The bill was tabled in parliament for initial debate last week, but the proceedings took a dramatic turn when 22-year-old Māori Party MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke stood up, tore the bill in half, and performed a haka in protest.
Signed in 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi is widely regarded as New Zealand’s founding document, bringing peace between 540 Māori chiefs and the British colonizers.
Today, the treaty’s principles remain central to fostering partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous New Zealanders, while safeguarding Māori interests. Its signing anniversary continues to be observed as a national holiday.
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