Hikoi heads down Queen Street in protest at Foreshore Bill

12.00pm

UPDATE - Auckland's second seabed and foreshore hikoi is about to reach Bastion Point.

About a thousand people have turned out for the march in central Auckland.

Central city traffic was at a standstill for two hours as the protestors made their way down Queen Street.

Marchers were chanting and singing, behind a haka group led by Maori Party co-leader Dr Pita Sharples.

Maori party flags weaved their way among the crowd, despite organisers calling for only tino rangatiratanga symbols to be on display.

Organisers said they were happy with the turnout, in support of their call for the Government to back down completely on the Foreshore and Seabed Bill.

Police said several waka were expected to paddle with the marchers along the waterfront to Okahu Bay.

The marchers were refused permission to enter the Orakei marae.

The march began in Whangarei on Thursday.

The first hikoi from Cape Reinga to Wellington earlier in the year attracted thousands of people and the two lanes of the Auckland Harbour Bridge were closed to north bound traffic as the marchers crossed.

- Newstalk ZB, NZPA