He is mobilising supporters to meet at Whareroa Reserve tomorrow for a protest march that aims to hinder traffic on Hewletts Rd/State Highway 2, a major commuter and freight route in Tauranga.
Ngāi Te Rangi chief executive Paora Stanley at the protest last year. Photo / Alex Cairns
Te Pāti Māori party wrote on social media this week: “We are being attacked for being Māori. This is what the rangatira revolution is about”.
Stanley said holding the protests on Budget Day was “p***ing on their (the Government’s) parade”.
He said he believed calls for Māori to strike for the day were a “red herring” and Ngāi Te Rangi was not asking this.
Last year protesters marched down Hewletts Rd in Tauranga. Photo / Alex Cairns
“People are not stupid enough if they are in a precarious position in their employment to go on strike. If you want to turn up, turn up and we are expecting a big turnout … last year we got 2500 people.”
“What they are doing is not right. We will not put up with it. We have to resist.”
He said it had worked too hard to “revitalise our reo, educate our people, protect our mokopuna and correct the injustices faced by Māori, to have these efforts reversed”.
The iwi had arranged safety marshals for the protest and has had a briefing with police, Stanley said.
Right to peaceful protest – police
A Tauranga police spokesperson advised the public to expect local traffic disruption during Thursday’s hīkoi.
“We are working with organisers to provide advice on lawful behaviour on our roads and public places, as well as any health and safety implications. Anyone travelling for time-sensitive commitments are advised to allow more time for their journey.”
Police recognised the right to peaceful protest.
“Unlawful behaviour will result in enforcement action, either at the time or following the event if safety issues prevent immediate action.”
An NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi spokeswoman said it would be closely monitoring the situation through its Traffic Operations Centres.
Police would be leading the operational response to the protest action.
She said the agency’s advice for commuters and motorists was to use the agency’s online journey planner and traffic information pages for the latest information before travelling.
Motor convoys on cards for other cities
Police advise commuters to hit the road to work early and avoid the peak hour protests planned for tomorrow morning.
Dozens of motorists in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are planning motor convoys to cause disruption to Thursday’s coalition Budget Day announcements.
Protest organiser Eru Kapa-Kingi, from Toitū Te Tiriti said “delaying a few people’s trips to work was nothing compared to the daily disruption this Government had on Māori”.
“We are the rangatira of this whenua and will act as we always have. We will act with the grace of our tikanga and sternness embedded in our mana,” Kapa-Kingi told the Herald.
“Heoi anō, just as we looked after Pākehā when they first arrived here in Aotearoa, and every day since, we will do the same this Thursday, whilst standing for the truth that we never ceded sovereignty, and keeping the wellbeing of our mokopuna at the front of our minds.”
“According to Luxon, natives are only allowed to protest on weekends while his mates can go anywhere, anytime,” Tamihere said.
Eru Kapa-Kingi with mum Te Tai Tokerau MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and dad Korotangi Kapa-Kingi. Photo / Tania Whyte
Protest motorists in Auckland will converge on to the Northwestern, Southern and Northern motorways from 6.30am on Thursday to try to accomplish maximum disruption.
Those groups will slowly make their way to Aotea Centre in downtown Auckland, where a rally will be fronted by community advocate Dave Letele.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell has condemned the planned “unlawful protest” action.
“I’ve been very clear with the commissioner that my expectations are that law-abiding Kiwis going about their daily business, their rights are protected above those who choose to break the law,” Mitchell said.
He told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that it is “absolutely illegal”.
Mitchell was joined by his Labour counterpart Ginny Andersen, who said she would not be joining in on the protests.
She said she understood why Māori were protesting but did not agree with unlawful protest.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi joining National Māori Action Day protesters at Parliament on December 5, 2023. Photo / Mark Mitchell
In Wellington, protesters will meet at the Wellington Railway Station before marching on Parliament before the 2pm Budget 2024 announcement.
Assistant Police Commissioner Mike Johnson said they were working to manage the right to protest and people’s rights to go about their daily business.
“Officers will be highly visible across the roading network throughout the morning and, in some locations, will put measures in place to prevent participants putting themselves and motorists in harm’s way,” Johnson said.
Areas he said would be affected in and around the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel included Port Waikato, Thames, Matamata, Tauranga, Ōpōtiki, Whakātane, Taupō, Tūrangi and Rotorua.
“We are aware that gatherings are planned for Aotea Square in Auckland City from 11am and Parliament Grounds in Wellington from 12 noon which are expected to continue into the afternoon,” Johnson said.
NZ First deputy leader Shane Jones said Te Pāti Māori is spreading a “grievance culture” and described the Māori Party hikoi as a “parade of blind mice”.
“They are promoting victimhood. Sadly their own supporters have become blind mice.
