Auckland Harbour Bridge sways under hīkoi crossing

Wednesday, 13 November 2024

Hīkoi being welcomed onto Bastion Point

Protesters marching for Te Tiriti o Waitangi have crossed Auckland, reaching Bastion Point and Ihumātao on Wednesday afternoon.

An estimated 5000 people crossed the Auckland Harbour Bridge in the morning, closing lanes to traffic and causing the structure to sway.

Protesters were marching against the Treaty Principles Bill, introduced in Parliament last week.

Kea Perene, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti marcher, crosses the Auckland Harbour Bridge on Wednesday.

As part of the hīkoi headed for Bastion Point on foot while the other travelled by car convoy to Ihumātao, road closures on Tāmaki Drive were put in place for the marchers to travel safely.

Though it began raining in Auckland in the afternoon, marchers were not deterred, continuing on their journey which began for some as far north as Cape Reinga.

Hīkoi scenes on Tuesday night in Auckland ahead of the harbour bridge crossing planned for Wednesday morning.

In Christchurch people gathered to tautoko (support) the hīkoi, which is expected to reach Wellington, the seat of Parliament, on November 19.

When the protest reaches Wellington, mayor Tory Whanau says she intends to join in.

Waka makes its way across the harbour as protestors cross the bridge

Under the weight of the hīkoi, even with the crowd spread out in groups of 250, the Auckland Harbour Bridge was swaying, with people having to hold onto each other and walk carefully.

Hīkoi Te Waipounamu (the South Island Hīkoi) at the Bridge of Remembrance in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Rose Taite (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei) said it was a relief to get off the wobbling bridge and to continue the hīkoi towards Takaparawhau/Bastion Pt.“

The hīkoi, which began in the Far North and has been through Kaitaia, Kawakawa, Whangārei and Dargaville, has been gathering steam as it travels down the country to Wellington.

Te Pāti Māori and Green Party leadership were among the protesters, with some even joining Protesters even joined via the water in waka and small craft.

Around 12.30pm all lanes on the Harbour Bridge reopened to traffic, with delays easing, according to Waka Kotahi NZTA.

The hīkoi expected to reach Rangiriri in Waikato by 6pm.

The harbour crossing came a day after drug-buying agency Pharmac sacked its Māori advisory group, a move its now ousted co-leaders say is just the latest breach of obligations under Te Tiriti to happen under this government.

“Pharmac now doesn’t have dedicated resource to provide them with advice to ensure they meet the needs of Māori when it comes to pharmaceuticals and medical devices,” former co-chair Rebecca Mason said.

“For everyday New Zealanders, it's about lack of voice in their decision making processes.”