Hīkoi supporters, many on horseback, gather in Omāhu. Photo / Paul Taylor
Hīkoi supporters, many on horseback, gather in Omāhu. Photo / Paul Taylor
Māori and Pākehā lined roads flying tino rangatiratanga flags from Eskdale to Bridge Pa on Friday to support the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti as the march entered Hawke’s Bay.
As the hīkoi came into Omāhu, the convoy was accompanied by supporters from Omāhu Marae, on foot and horseback, as the group of cars – and some unlucky Friday work motorists – slowly made their way through town.
Waiohiki locals of all ages came to back the hīkoi. Photo / Paul Taylor
Showing his support from Waiohiki was Tewananga Reihana-Leison, who was there to “taitoko our whānau, our people from all over the motu and just show support”.
“No matter where you are, all our little communities will always pop out for our Māori people.”
Reihana-Leison was happy when Te Pati Māori tore up the Treaty Principles Bill in front of Act leader David Seymour at Parliament this week. “I think it’s about time we start fighting for our rights.”
Dawn Moeroa was there waving flags to “support the kaupapa” as the convoy of cars came through. She believes Seymour’s bill is a “whole lot of bulls***”.
“[The bill] is stealing our rights off our whenua, but not everyone is going to look at it the same, eh? Obviously us Māori are going to look at it differently. It’s having more understanding of our rights and why the Treaty was put there in the first place.”
Noli Ferguson was supporting the hīkoi from her car to “encourage the young ones”. She believes the bill is something “you have to be serious about”.
“It’s not just something you can throw under the carpet, you’ve got to do something about it and Māori must have a Māori voice at the table.”
Garth Cooper, a Pākehā, believes the bill is “a childish projection or creation to continue to try and put the indigenous culture down below the white Government”.
“All Māori I’ve ever spoken to say we’re not wanting to be above anyone, we want to be together.
“[The bill] is causing anger in whānau, in houses, even me. There’s so much that white culture can learn from the Māori people.”
A rally will be held in support of the hīkoi at 10am on Saturday by the Hastings Clock Tower before the protest continues south to Wellington.
Earlier on Friday, a Hastings store was inundated with customers desperate to get their hands on traditional Māori flags, also known as the tino rangatiratanga flag, to show their support for the hīkoi ahead of its arrival in Hawke’s Bay.
People line up to buy tino rangatiratanga flags at Lynn House in Hastings before the hīkoi arrived in Hawke's Bay. Photo / Jack Riddell
Lynn House, a clothing store on Heretaunga St East, had people desperate to get their hands on flags queueing outside the store Friday morning.
Store owner Lisa, who did not want to use her last name, said she opened the doors at 9am and had sold out of the flags 15 minutes later.
About 750 if not 1000 tino rangatiratanga flags of varying sizes had been sold.
She had also sold out of the flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand.
