Hīkoi moves through Waikato as MPs debate bill

As the ACT's Treaty Principles Bill held its first reading in Parliament on Thursday, the hīkoi protesting against it marched through the Waikato district.

Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti made its way from the Far North yesterday, crossing the Auckland Harbour Bridge and visiting key sites such as Takaparawhau|Bastian Point and Ihumātao.

Some hīkoi participants are taking the march up a notch, completing running sprints between different activation sites.

Māori media specialist Potaka Maipi is in Kirikiriroa|Hamilton and said the first leg of the run was led by his daughter, Te Pāti Māori MP Hana Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke.

“This morning [Thursday] at 6am, Hana and a lot of her rangatahi ran from Waahi Paa in Huntly|Rāhui Pōkeka all the way to Ngāruawāhia.”

That’s about 16.2 kilometres.

From Te Kao Village to the Beehive is a walking distance of 1049.8km (237 hours), according to Google Maps. Seeing as there are multiple activation spots along the Hīkoi journey, the marchers will cover more than that.

The Waikato leg started at the historical landmark of Rangiriri Paa, where over 1400 British troops, three cannons, and two gunboats laid waste to 500 Māori - subsequently opening the Waikato basin to the British forces.

Maipi says the hīkoi also represents historical grievances against the crown.

“It was significant to let them know that this isn’t new. It was an awesome poowhiri there and then we moved on to Waahi Paa last night. A lot of the kaihīkoi (marchers) were tired but there was a huge crowd there.”

When PMN News spoke with Maipi on Thursday morning, he was “standing amongst it” with an estimated 2000 people awaiting the arrival of the hīkoi to Garden Place in Hamilton.

He confirmed about 10,000 hīkoi participants.

“I don’t know how we’re all going to fit actually when the march lands i te pito o te tāone, in the heart of the city. It’s already packed and we’ve still got 8000 more kaihīkoi or marchers to come.”

He said the representation of many cultures was evidence of unity and support for the kaupapa.

“We've got Chinese, Asian, Pākehā, but predominantly Māori but I've seen a lot of Pasifika people here too which is awesome.

“That was the main aim, we know that there’s a lot of support from Māoridom. What we wanted to do here anyway was to reach out to the other whaanau, especially the Pasifika whaanau… and bring in the Pasifika whaanau amongst us all here.

“The main organising crew, half of the volunteers here are Pasifika too, so that’s awesome.”

Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti activation at Garden Place, Kirikiriroa|Hamilton. Photo/Toitū Te Tiriti & Māori Women's Welfare League

As the hīkoi left the Waikato on Thursday, the runners were be led by former Black Fern and Kiwi Fern, Honey Hireme-Smiler from Hamilton Central to Cambridge, finishing in Tīrau before handing the baton over to Te Arawa waka in Rotorua around 3pm.

Friday morning will see Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti move from Rotorua to Hastings and is due to arrive at Parliament early next week.