Hīkoi protest: Thousands march through key Auckland sites on day ...
Photo: Cole Eastham Farrelly
The nationwide hīkoi for te Tiriti made its way through the Auckland region on Wednesday.
The hīkoi which set out from Cape Reinga two days ago is retracing the footsteps of past Māori protest movements from Bastion Point and Ihumātao.
The Auckland Harbour Bridge shook under the weight of thousands of people as they made their way across two closed northbound lanes just after 9am on Wednesday.
Green Party MP Huhana Lyndon was there with the hīkoi - and said the sight reminded her of past protests.
Lyndon said she joined the hīkoi to support Māori unity and stand against government policy.
The decision to then take the hīkoi to Takaparawhau - Bastion Point was made as a way to acknowledge Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei's struggle to retain their land, Toitū te Tiriti spokesperson Eru Kapa-Kingi said.
Just before the hīkoi arrived at Takaparawhau, an archive clip of Joe Hawke calling for the return of his iwi's land was played out to the crowd.
The hīkoi was then welcomed to Ihumātao later in the afternoon by hundreds of supporters, many of whom had waited hours for them to arrive.
A pōwhiri was performed to welcome the hīkoi at Ihumātao. Photo: Layla Bailey-McDowell
Organisers of the hīkoi said the visit to Ihumātao was about acknowledging the struggles mana whenua had against consecutive governments.
The convoy, of about 400 at this point, ended Wednesday's march at another site of Māori resistance - Rangiriri north of Huntly - the site of a major battle during the Waikato war.
The hīkoi would resume its journey from Huntly to Parliament on Thursday morning.
In the South Island, about 2000 people filed onto the Bridge of Remembrance in Ōtautahi Christchurch as part of the hīkoi.
Among the many people and tino rangatiratanga flags were tamariki - with some eagerly ramping up the crowd with waiata.
South Islanders would join the rest of the hīkoi participants at the start of next week.
Wednesday in Auckland had been a "considerable exercise for police", Acting Assistant Commissioner Naila Hassan said, but there had been no significant issues.
"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."
What will happen on Thursday?Disruptions on Thursday are expected across the roading network and in urban areas in Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Eastern Districts, Hassan said.
Waikato:
The hīkoi is expected to travel from the marae to arrive at FMG Stadium in Hamilton by 9am.
The hīkoi will march to Garden Place where a gathering is expected at around 11am.
The main hīkoi will then travel to Apumoana Marae, Rotorua where they will stay overnight.
Bay of Plenty:
In the afternoon, the main hīkoi will travel from Hamilton to Apumoana Marae, Rotorua where they will stay overnight.
A group from Tauranga will travel to meet the main hīkoi via State Highway 29.
Eastern:
It is anticipated specific Gisborne roads will be impacted in the afternoon and early evening.
A hīkoi from Hinetapuarau Pou will head south towards Te Karaka after 10am.
A gathering is expected at Waerenga a Hika at 2pm, heading towards Heipipi Park in Gisborne at 4pm.
At approximately 5pm, the hīkoi will leave Heipipi Park in the Gisborne CBD and walk across the Gladstone Road bridge and onto Wainui Road.
It is expected that the northbound lane and surrounding streets will be heavily affected until potentially 6pm or later.
The hīkoi will walk along Wainui Road until it reaches the intersection with London Road.
The end destination is Te Poho O Rawiri Marae, Ranfurly Road.
A hīkoi from Oweka will travel along State Highway 35 and is expected to at arrive at Te Poho o Rawiri Marae at 6pm.
Both hīkoi will travel to Te Poho o Rāwiri Marae in Gisborne where they plan to stay overnight.
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