Hikoi expands as it reaches Hamilton

By AINSLEY THOMSON

As the foreshore and seabed hikoi rolls south on its journey to Parliament, more supporters are joining its ranks to show their opposition to the Government's plans.

Yesterday, 5000 people - the biggest crowd to date - turned out as the hikoi passed through Tainui heartland and converged on Hamilton.

After leaving the overnight point of Huntly, the hikoi moved down to Taupiri Mountain, where it stopped for a karakia (prayer), before heading to Ngaruawahia. By midday it had reached Hamilton.

There, the billowing hikoi marched down Victoria St behind the pouwhenua (marker pole) chanting and singing. At Garden Place the crowd gathered for a powhiri (welcome) and speeches.

Among the hikoi marchers, carrying a bucket to collect koha, was Christina Tay.

The Waikato University law and politics student had spent the previous day picking hundreds of feijoas off the ground.

The 29-year-old was one of the volunteers organising the Hamilton leg of the hikoi - and her main focus was to find enough to feed the thousands of people expected to descend on the city.

Food donations were received from charities and individuals, but more was needed to feed the masses of hungry protesters.

So the idea of finding obliging orchardists willing to part with spoiled fruit was conceived.

In charge of policing the hikoi all the way to Parliament is Inspector Wally Haumaha, who is the national Maori strategic cultural adviser for the police.

Mr Haumaha and his five iwi liaison officers - Maori police officers who each have more than 20 years experience on the force - have so far prevented any incidents on the march.

Each day they communicate with the hikoi leaders and plan how best to protect the marchers from vehicles while causing as little disruption to traffic as possible.