Will’s Word: A humbling and emotional journey, witnessing unity and 'beautifully peaceful' demonstration

This is more of a reflection on yesterday's hīkoi that I was fortunate enough to attend at Parliament, merely to observe and not take part of course.

But boy was this a profoundly humbling experience, is the only way I could describe it. It was extraordinary and electric. Tens of thousands of people unified for one cause, obviously, to oppose the Treaty Principles Bill, and their presence and passion were just incredible to witness. It's the only way to put it.

I stood among the crowd feeling the powerful collective energy that I suppose, you know, surged through the streets and onto the grounds of Parliament.

You could feel the atmosphere was heavy and full of emotion - so much to the point that it actually rubbed off on me. And I became emotional in that crowd yesterday, watching it all unfold - 'there's 44,000 or so people here to protest against what they believe to be wrong'.

And I guess again, what struck me most was this genuine sense of unity. Or, you know, this coming together of not just Māori, but you could see people of all ethnicities among the crowd. Our Pacific brothers and sisters as well, whether it be those who I saw yesterday carrying the Sāmoan, the Cook Island, the Fijian flags. It was amazing to witness.

Honestly, I could not help but reflect on my own understanding of the Treaty. And I think therein lies a problem for myself that I need to work on. Growing up, and perhaps this is just a symptom of the education system that I grew up in, we didn't really have much in terms of being taught the Treaty, being taught about New Zealand history.

And so yesterday was actually really humbling, really humbling.

I must admit going into it, I do have this view, and I perhaps still do have this view, that at the end of the day we are all one, and that's the human race, and I think that should prevail above all else, but having said that, yesterday was beautiful.

The difference is, it shouldn't pit us against each other, they should unify us as it did yesterday.

Look, there's a lot for me to take away from and learn from the experience of yesterday.

And I think also just the fact that it was a beautifully peaceful protest also speaks volumes to me.

People traveling from all across the country, talking to people yesterday. Some telling me, you know, they've travelled from Northland. Some have travelled from Christchurch. All together for this one cause.

And so I actually think in the end, the march wasn't just about the bill, but it's about pushing back against what's wrong in order to move forward. And so that's what I take away from yesterday.

A really humbling experience and an emotional one. That's Will's Word.