Maori protesters turn their backs on government ministers

If New Zealand’s coalition government had prepared for political fireworks from Indigenous leaders on the eve of the country’s national day, they were met with something arguably even louder: turned backs and silence.Under a blazing hot sun on Wednesday, political leaders gathered at the Waitangi treaty grounds in New Zealand’s far north to celebrate Waitangi Day, which marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840. The treaty, signed by Maori chiefs and the British Crown is considered New Zealand’s founding document and is instrumental in upholding Maori rights.Hundreds of protesters from the Toitu te Tiriti movement, which led the largest ever protest over Maori rights in 2024, departed the grounds as the government delegation arrived, leaving behind a largely empty peninsula.“We are sick of talking to ears that will not listen, and to minds that will not change,” leader Eru Kapa-Kingi told the crowd, before they left.Later, when ministers stood to speak in front of the marae (meeting house), prominent Maori leaders and a group of women from Ngapuhi iwi (tribes) turned their backs.“[We] are turning our backs on them, we don’t want to listen, we have had enough,” Hinerangi Himiona told the Guardian, adding this was the first time in 80 years that this form of protest had been used at the grounds.The women, cloaked in red blankets stitched with messages and symbols of Maori sovereignty, wept quietly as they stood shoulder to shoulder – tears, Himiona explained, for the hundreds of Indigenous children in state care, for the significant population of Maori in prison and for the endless battle for Maori rights.“There is a lot to cry about, and there is a lot to be angry about – we hope that we represented the mamaetanga [hurt] of our people well,” Himiona said.Rolling back rightsThe signing New Zealand’s founding document has been commemorated as a public holiday on 6 February since 1974, with events around the country, and a formal multi-day celebration held at the Waitangi grounds. It is as much a festive time of music, food and community as it is a forum for political discussion about sovereignty, equality and history and has often been the scene of demonstrations, with Maori protesting against the lack of progress made in tackling inequality and ongoing breaches of the treaty.Last year, prime minister Christopher Luxon and his coalition partners faced protest and boos over its policies, which many fear are rolling back Maori rights. This year, Luxon was absent, choosing instead to attend a Waitangi event in the South Island – a decision that sparked accusations of cowardice from opposition parties and some Indigenous leaders.With a missing prime minister and no discernible change in his government’s policy direction for Maori, the reception at Waitangi turned ice-cold.Since taking office, the coalition government’s broader policy direction for Maori – including sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to improve Maori health and wellbeing – has prompted strident criticism.

Maori protesters turn their backs on government ministers

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-19

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Maori protesters turn their backs on government ministers

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-19

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