Hīkoi mō te Tiriti's stop in Kaipara district to mark loss of Māori ward

The national hīkoi passes through Kaitaia. Photo: Peter de Graaf

The Hīkoi mō te Tiriti will detour from its route in the footsteps of Dame Whina Cooper's 1975 land march to stop in the Kaipara District on Tuesday.

The hikoi, which departed from Northland yesterday, is in opposition to the coalition government's Treaty Principles Bill and other policy affecting Māori.

Traffic is already building in Whangārei ahead of Tuesday's activities.

Police in the city centre are directing traffic and protesters can be seen with Tino Rangatiratanga flags and signs walking to the first event which is at Laurie Hall Park in Whangārei.

Te Moananui o Kaipara Māori ward councillor Pera Paniora said the hikoi will pass through her district around midday today to protest at the actions of the district council, where councillors recently voted to disestablish the Māori ward.

She said she was "not too sure" whether the council would meet with the hikoi, but the Kaipara council building was symbolic of what has occurred.

"We are no stranger to what happened.

"There's been many many disestablishments of co-governance arrangements, removal of te reo Māori from documents, karakia so it's a difficult time for Māori here in the Kaipara."

Paniora said she was honoured to host the hikoi as it heads towards the capital.

"In true te ao Māori fashion, I am helping to lead some entertainment and some kai for when it arrives.

"We are going to make sure they are well looked after well feed and rested before they make their way over to North Shore this evening for the pōwhiri at 6pm."

Early on Monday hundreds gathered for a misty covered dawn karakia at Te Rerenga Wairua, the very top of the North Island, after meeting at the nearby town of Te Kāo the night before.

A dawn karakia at Cape Reinga that launched a national hīkoi opposing the Treaty Principles bill and government policy affecting Māori. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf

Among them was veteran Māori rights activist and former MP Hone Harawira who said the hīkoi was about protesting a "blitzkreig of oppression" from the government and uplifting Māori.

By lunch time the hīkoi had reached Kaiatia where numbers swelled to well over 1000 people. The main street had to be closed to traffic while supporters filled the streets with flags, waiata and haka.

Hikoi participants on horseback, Kaitaia. Photo: Peter de Graaf

The hikoi arrived in Whangārei on Monday night, after their first day of travel towards Wellington.

It is also due to travel on to Dargaville and Auckland's North Shore on Tuesday.

The convoy plans to be at Parliament by Tuesday next week.

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