Thousands of people participated in protests across New Zealand on Thursday, expressing their anger over what they perceive as the government’s erosion of Māori rights. These demonstrations coincided with the centre-right coalition government’s unveiling of its first budget, which included tax cuts and proposed savings in various sectors such as housing and conservation.
Despite criticism that funding had been slashed for programmes benefiting Māori, the finance minister argued that the new initiatives were designed to benefit all New Zealanders. The government, which took office in October, has faced multiple accusations of undermining the agency of the indigenous Māori people.
The protests, referred to as hikoi, were held in several cities including Wellington, Auckland, Tauranga, and Christchurch. Some protests involved car convoys on motorways, causing traffic disruptions. Many demonstrators waved the red, white, and black Māori flag, a symbol of Māori independence.
“We are here to have a voice and support those working to make things right, not just for Māori but for all New Zealanders,” said Christina Taurua, a protester outside the parliament buildings in Wellington, speaking to news agency.
Protesters expressed concerns over the rapid dismantling of political policies and initiatives they had fought hard for, such as the recent disbanding of a new entity aimed at improving Māori health services. “They just come along and change these laws with the snap of a finger,” Ethan Smith told Radio New Zealand in Auckland. “We want them to sit down with us to discuss these issues and find a better resolution for everyone.”
This was the second such protest since the new government took power, but it drew a significantly larger crowd. Later on Thursday, the Māori Party, one of the six parties represented in New Zealand’s parliament, issued a Declaration of Political Independence, announcing plans to establish a separate parliament for Māori people. They stated that this initiative was part of their efforts to transform New Zealand into a nation that respects Indigenous sovereignty and creates a safe home for all peoples.
According to Statistics New Zealand, about 17% of the population identifies as ethnically Māori. The Māori population remains disadvantaged compared to the general population in several areas, including health outcomes, household income, education levels, incarceration rates, and life expectancy, which is seven years lower on average for Māori.
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, leader of one of the three coalition parties, criticized the Māori Party for protesting outside parliament rather than attending the budget presentation. He also highlighted what he saw as the “irony and hypocrisy” of the Māori Party, noting that in 2005, its president described the party’s rise as “unfortunate and frustrating” and its supporters as “tribal fundamentalists.”
The coalition leaders have previously stated their intention not to divide the country along racial lines. Finance Minister Nicola Willis rejected claims that the new budget neglected Māori development, asserting that it benefits all New Zealanders equally. “This is a budget that delivers for Māori because when a New Zealander seeks emergency or educational services, they don’t think about their ethnicity,” she said.
Former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, leader of the Labour Party, the country’s largest opposition party, disagreed, criticizing the budget for lacking substantial provisions for health and education. “In New Zealand, we work together for the good of the many, not the few,” he said. “This budget does not deliver in that spirit.”
