WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Tens of thousands of New Zealanders rallied in front of Parliament on Tuesday in one of the country’s largest ever protests to oppose a bill, which opponents say seeks to dilute the rights of Maori and threatens to set race relations back decades.
Massive crowds estimated by the police at 42,000 gathered at Parliament, where the Treaty Principles Bill was introduced earlier this month by legislators who want to reinterpret a 184-year-old treaty signed between the British and Indigenous Maori.
“I’m here for my grandchildren, my children and for their children,” said Hoana Hadfield from Wellington, who was marching in a protest for the first time.
Helmut Modlik, a leader in the Ngati Toa tribe, told the crowd that it was too late to divide the country.
We are already one people,” Modlik said to cheers from those gathered on the lawns of Parliament.
Persons:
“, ”, Hoana Hadfield, Helmut Modlik, ” Modlik
Organizations:
New Zealanders, Maori national, Unity
Locations:
WELLINGTON, New Zealand, New, Wellington, Ngati Toa