‘It felt really special’ - Hīkoi mō te Tiriti welcomed on to Bastion Point and Ihumātao
Wednesday, 13 November 2024
After the Harbour Bridge crossing, the hīkoi made its way to Takaparawhau/Bastion Point and Ihumātao.
Both sites are historically significant to tangata whenua with thousands present on Wednesday in support of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and kotahitanga.
The hīkoi is expected to travel from Huntly to Hamilton on Thursday.
“Go forward, knowing you have our support right to the very end.”
Words of encouragement from Sharon Hawke as she addressed the Hīkoi Mō Te Tiriti at Takaparawhau/Bastion Point on Wednesday.
Around 2000 people arrived at the home of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei on Wednesday afternoon, ready to activate in support of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and to carry the fight to Wellington.
They still had plenty of kaha after being part of the 5000-strong hīkoi across the Auckland Harbour Bridge in the morning.
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei manaakitanga helped fuel the hīkoi with kaimoana and sausage sizzles freely available, as well as space to rest on the lush green grass of Takaparawhau.
Toitū Te Tiriti spokesperson Eru Kapa-Kingi said he felt “amazing and relieved” to be at Takaparawhau after the crossing of the harbour bridge.
“There’s a lot, logistically, that goes into it. The most important thing to our team is safety. I’m feeling relieved and proud,” he said.
Kapa-Kingi said it felt special to be welcomed to Takaparawhau by Sharon Hawke, daughter of legendary Māori activist Joe Hawke.
“Considering we were coming to the land that was occupied for over 500 days, and which really sparked new generation movements such as Ihumātao and lots of Māori activations, it felt really special,” he said.
“More smooth sailing from here, we can take a little more time to breathe and build the energy back up for when we land in Pōneke.”
Ngatiwai chairperson Aperahama Edwards said he was “overwhelmed” to see the number of people in Tāmaki Makaurau showing their support for the hīkoi.
“Tangata Tiriti, from all walks of life, all ethnicities, have come because this is something honourable,” he said.
“There is much shame, with what’s taking place in Parliament, and so it’s our hope that the hearts of those making those decisions be softened, and seek something enduring for our nation.”
The hīkoi, which is aligned with Te Pāti Māori, is opposed to the Treaty Principles Bill currently before Parliament.
Meanwhile, down south at Ihumātao, rangatahi stole the show.
Once a pā site, the area is sacred to mana whenua who have ancestral links to the land stretching back to the first people to arrive in Tāmaki.
Among the crowd was 17-year-old Asher (Ngāpuhi).
She said she was involved in the hīkoi to reclaim her whenua, and be the voice of the next generation.
“As rangatahi I think it’s important for us to show up and show out to these events, and to keep preaching Toitū Te Tiriti until the Government listens,” she said.
“Because in terms of the Treaty Principles Bill, it’s stupid, it’s messed up, what are they doing? Already repealing the Māori Health Authority and government agencies that help Māori is crazy.”
10-year-old Harper Manley said she was here to “represent her culture”.
“I know what [Māori] have been through and I want to support them so much,” she said.
“I feel so proud about my culture, I feel proud about me showing up and supporting everybody.”
Emily Worman said the bigger question was, why people weren’t there.
“We’re tangata Tiriti, we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the Treaty,” Worman said. “Kill the bill.”
The hīkoi continued on to Rangiriri then Waahi Pā in Huntly for the night.
Police had a visible presence across Auckland on Wednesday, Acting Assistant Commissioner Naila Hassan said.
“What we saw was a large crowd of people demonstrating peacefully as part of a permitted event; we’re pleased with the peaceful actions of hīkoi participants and how well motorists responded to periods of significant disruption.”
“This morning we saw one of the largest concentrations ever of people crossing the Harbour Bridge in such a short time.”
She said an estimated 5000 people crossed the Auckland Harbour Bridge and as many as 2000 took part in a hīkoi from Okahu Bay to Bastion Point.
Police worked with other agencies to manage the large movement of people safely.
“Today has been a considerable exercise but the job is not over, and Police will remain focused on the hīkoi’s safe passage down the North Island.”
Police said to expect disruptions across the roading network and in urban areas in Waikato, Bay of Plenty and the Eastern Districts on Thursday.
The hīkoi is expected to travel from Whakatau ki Waahi Pā Marae in Huntly to arrive at FMG Stadium in Hamilton by 9am.
The hīkoi will march to Garden Place where an activation is expected at around 11am.
The main hīkoi will then travel to Apumoana Marae, Rotorua where they will stay overnight.
A group from Tauranga will travel to meet the main hīkoi via State Highway 29.
There will be hīkoi movement in Te Tairāwhiti as well, with two hīkoi travelling to meet in Gisborne on Thursday.
It is anticipated it could impact specific Gisborne roads on Thursday afternoon and early evening, Police said.
A hīkoi from Hinetapuarau Pou on the Gisborne side of the Waioeka Gorge will head south towards Te Karaka after 10am, due to arrive in Gisborne for an activation at Heipipi Park at 4pm.
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At 5pm the hīkoi will leave Heipipi Park in the Gisborne CBD and walk across the Gladstone Rd bridge and onto Wainui Rd, heading to Te Poho-O-Rawiri Marae, on Ranfurly Rd.
Meanwhile, a hīkoi from Oweka near Hicks Bay will travel along SH35 through Te Araroa, Tikitiki, Mākarika, Te Puia, Tokomaru Bay, Tolaga Bay and Whangarā, and is expected to at arrive at Te Poho-o-Rawiri Marae at 6pm.