Māori, take to streets ahead of Budget
Thursday, 30 May 2024
Thousands of people up and down Aotearoa took to the streets to protest the Government’s perceived “assault on tangata whenua and Te Tiriti o Waitangi”
The action started before dawn, where hundreds of cars nationwide took off from their respective meeting areas, driving slowly down motorways in a formation dubbed a ‘carkoi’
Shortly after, began the hīkoi and rallies from Northland, to Dunedin
While Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ delivered her first Budget to the country from the capital, across the nation tens of thousands of people were protesting.
Across the country Māori and allies, some with strollers and pets all gathered. All from different walks of life, from the bustling metropolis of Auckland, to the capital and the small towns in-between like Waikaretu, all united against a government, they say has performed an “assault on tangata whenua and Te Tiriti o Waitangi”.
Te Pāti Māori and the Toitū Te Tiriti (Honour the Treaty) movement group, started by Te Pāti Māori activists, asked supporters to miss work as part of a “nationwide activation”.
The action started before dawn, where hundreds of cars nationwide took off from their respective meeting areas, driving slowly down motorways in a formation dubbed a ‘carkoi’, a play on the traditional hīkoi.
Jacqui Harema, who led the West Auckland protesters, said the government was making a lot of decisions on behalf of Māori, without actually consultation.
“The Māori economy is worth $70 billion, you need to recognise that we have importance. We need input in everything, we’re a Tiriti partner,” she said.
At least 1000 people converged on Rotorua's busiest intersection, Fenton and Amohau streets.
A large number of police escorted the groups into the city where they ended their protest with chants and cheers before dispersing. Traffic into the city almost came to a standstill with many people finding their morning commute taking up to 30 minutes longer than usual.
In Hamilton, Filmmaker Ezak Te Whaiti Smith had no reservations about taking part in Thursday’s hīkoi.
Smith said the coalition government was “trying to disrupt te ao Māori” but it was actually doing the opposite.
“I feel it is important to support the kaupapa and see our people stand up and rise against what I call tyranny in New Zealand politics”.
He said the tensions surrounding the policies and decisions of the Government, particularly regarding Te Tiriti is “actually uniting us”.
“What the political parties today have done have actually poked the bear what I mean by poking the bear is we’ve been in hibernation for so long…successive governments have been able to shove us in the corner and kept us there. With all these attacks from successive governments the bear is actually starting to wake up and growl.”
In Auckland, rally lead Dave Letele said it wasn’t just Māori that were affected, but New Zealand as a whole.
“It’s about everyone struggling, housing, justice, health, these things affect everybody.”
Letele said he didn’t believe the current Government would be able to solve them.
From Wellington, protester Ropata Maxwell said the current government wasn’t working for Māori.
“It seems like our government wants to sever the partnership that we've had with previous governments, and it will affect us as a people, as Māori and more importantly it's going to have a major impact on our babies and tamariki, and their future within this country.”
Willis, however, said the Budget - which siphoned about $100m from Māori development agency Te Puni Kōkiri, and $25m from the the Ministry for Pacific Peoples - was focused on improving the economy.
“Māori have everything to gain from a stronger economy. Māori have everything to gain from lower inflation, low interest rates, higher incomes and better investment in the frontline.”
The government did make good on its promise to increase funding for Te Matatini. It would receive new funding of $48.7 million over three years, starting in 2025.