‘It’s about aiga’: Pasifika align with Māori in historic hīkoi

Thousands are gathered in the nation's capital for Hīkoi mō te Tiriti, a peaceful march to oppose the government's Treaty Principles Bill.

People of all nationalities have gathered at Waitangi Park this morning and will arrive at Parliament grounds at midday.

Sāmoan activist Michel Mulipola says there’s a vibrant atmosphere.

“The wairua, the energy, the fizzing of the people at the moment congregating into this area, ready to hīkoi, is amazing.

“I’ve seen Sāmoa flags, I’ve seen Tonga flags, I’ve seen Niue flags, so we’re all in this together.”

People from all nationalities gather at Parliament in support of the hīkoi. Photo/PMN News/William Terite

Mulipola took inspiration from the advocacy work of his family.

“For me as a Sāmoan, a Western Sāmoan in particular, who had a great grandfather in the Mau movement, my country, my nation, my island has independence, it's free.

“So I use my freedom to step up and support our tangata whenua cousins, our cousins of the moana, it just felt like the right thing to do, it’s all about aiga.”

Speaking to William Terite on Pacific Mornings, Mulipola said Pacific people had benefited from the original intent of the nation’s founding document, and it shouldn’t be changed.

“The economic opportunities and the lives that we were able to build here in this country, on this whenua, wouldn't have been possible without Te Tiriti, without the Māori people and their open arms.

“What David Seymour has done is taken a couple of lines, twisted it to fit his narrative, and now he’s kind of under the guise of equality trying to push through this rewriting of Te Tiriti, and that’s an immediate danger to the rights of Māori.”

The tino rangatiratanga flag is the most prominent at the hīkoi in Wellington. Photo/PMN News/William Terite

Members of the Green and Labour parties are also joining the hīkoi. Labour MP Willie Jackson said the issue has been unifying.

“A lot of excitement, a lot of people gathering from all areas: Māori, Pākehā, Pasifika, Asians, I think it’s terrific, and right across the political spectrum too.”

The myth of equal rights

The Treaty Principles Bill passed its first reading in Parliament last week despite fierce pushback from opposition and former political leaders.

A rousing haka performed in Parliament by Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke furthered a global groundswell of support for opposing the bill.

The bill, introduced by ACT Party leader David Seymour, aimed to define the principles of the country’s founding document.

The hīkoi arriving at Parliament. Photo/PMN News/William Terite

But Jackson said the premise for the bill doesn’t make sense.

“I just think it's a shameful example of a politician, who doesn't want to hear anything, doesn't want to see anything, he knows more than everyone, including former prime ministers, politicians, judges, lawyers, it's just a bloody disgrace.

“He's honing in on the ignorance and sadly some of the bigotry of some New Zealanders, so it's just a shame for them and he masks it all with this “I'm so reasonable and everybody else is so unreasonable."

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has yet to confirm whether he will address the gathering at Parliament or meet with organisers in private. But Jackson said he should make himself available.

“That’s what any reasonable Prime Minister should do. Our people should meet him if they get an opportunity so that they can carry and give the messages of anger and I suppose, the pain that a lot of Kiwis are feeling at the moment; it’s not just Māori.”

Looking ahead

The bill passed the first reading and will proceed to the select committee phase, where communities can submit.

Jackson said the awareness and support of the hīkoi’s kaupapa is also a movement that will continue beyond the past week's events.

“There's more that we're going to be fighting against. So take this energy, power yourselves up because we're in for a long road. There's more work to be done beyond this hīkoi.”