Fri Nov 15 07:57:28 UTC 2024: ## Controversial Treaty Bill Sparks Massive Protest in New Zealand
Thousands of New Zealanders have embarked on a nine-day march to the capital, Wellington, in protest against a controversial bill that seeks to redefine the country’s founding treaty between the British and the indigenous Maori people. The “Treaty Principles Bill”, introduced by the ACT New Zealand party, aims to revise the 184-year-old Treaty of Waitangi, which granted Maori tribes extensive land rights and protections.
The bill has sparked widespread outrage among Maori and their supporters, who view it as a threat to their rights and a potential source of racial discord. Critics argue that the bill undermines the treaty’s core principles and seeks to extend the rights enshrined in the treaty to all citizens, potentially diluting the unique rights of the Maori people.
On Thursday, as parliamentarians debated the bill, a heated exchange unfolded, culminating in 22-year-old legislator Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, from the Te Pati Maori party, ripping up a copy of the bill and leading her colleagues in a traditional haka dance. The protest disrupted parliamentary proceedings, with shouts from the gallery drowning out debate.
Despite the opposition, the bill passed its first parliamentary reading with 68 votes in favour and 54 against. However, it faces an uphill battle to become law. The coalition government partners, the National Party and New Zealand First, have only agreed to support the bill through its first reading as part of a deal with ACT New Zealand.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, leader of the National Party, has expressed reservations about the bill, stating that the treaty’s principles are complex and cannot be easily revised. ACT New Zealand leader David Seymour, on the other hand, has defended the bill, arguing that it aims to empower all citizens.
The nine-day hikoi (Maori for march) is expected to reach Wellington on Tuesday, where participants will stage rallies highlighting their opposition to the bill. The ongoing protests demonstrate the deep-seated concerns surrounding the bill and its potential impact on the delicate relationship between Maori and the wider New Zealand population.
First Piper 