CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | Contact
TRENCH WARFARE: Close to 50,000 Māori protestors have descended upon the New Zealand capital of Wellington today, in protest against the same lies that conservative rednecks have been spewing since 1840.
This unprecedented demonstration, known by the Māori as a ‘hīkoi’, comes in response to a bill proposed to Parliament by New Zealand’s chaotic right-wing coalition – who are seeking to water down First Nations rights.
The Treaty Principles Bill, which if passed into law, would radically alter the way the Treaty of Waitangi is interpreted, has resulted in the unwavering solidarity between every tribe from both the North and South islands.
The treaty is an agreement signed in 1840 between more than 500 Māori chiefs and the crown and is instrumental in protecting Māori culture and land, while also insuring peace amongst both British and Indigenous people.
However, the right-wing Luxon government is attempting to nullify this document, and have used the cost-of-living crisis as the perfect moment to peddle misinformation about Māori receiving special treatment over ‘ordinary Kiwis’.
This culture war has found great success in the toxic social media algorithms that have replaced traditional news publishers right across the world.
However, just like when the British arrived on the shores of Aotearoa with both gifts and gun powder in the 1700s, these tricks do not work on the Māori people. The hīkoi has today descended upon Parliament to let the right-wing political class know that they have not been fooled by the division their government is seeking to sow into New Zealand society.
Farmers, Christians, footballers, factory workers, academics and activists were all present in Wellington today, as hakas and chants bring the city of Wellington to a stand still.
While this bill does not appear to have enough support to become law, it’s mere introduction to Parliament has prompted widespread anger amongst the Māori public, who can see the bill for what it is.
The passion displayed by the Māori community in Wellington today has once again reminded the Commonwealth of the context in which the Treaty Of Waitangi was signed, and the only way it can be interpreted.
