Marchers gather in high winds for hikoi through capital

9.15am

Maori and pakeha gathered at the Wellington waterfront in high winds today for a hikoi to Parliament, with organisers promising it would be peaceful.

Around 5000 people were expected on the march protesting against the Government's foreshore and seabed policy, though organisers hoped for a headcount closer to 10,000.

Veteran activist Ken Mair said many marchers and supporters had "parked up" and spent the night around the hikoi meeting point, the national museum Te Papa, ready for the 10am start.

There were about 500 there when he arrived at 4.30am, and at 7am at least 1000 people were assembling around Te Papa, he said.

Mr Mair said there would be no violence during the capital march.

"The hikoi has been incident-free and we haven't had any problems and we expect the same today," he told National Radio.

The main strand of the hikoi, which left the Far North two weeks ago and spent last night in Porirua, was to be joined at Te Papa by an eastern North Island strand that spent the night in Masterton.

More marchers were expected from the South Island, boosted by a smaller one-lane road march from the Wellington suburb of Newtown and a footpath march from Victoria University in Kelburn starting about 8am.

"It's very windy and we expect rain, but we're prepared and have brought black rubbish bags and things," Mr Mair said.

Te Papa's car park, reserved for kaumatua vehicles, was full by 6am, head of police for the event Detective Inspector Rod Drew said.

About 100 cars carrying marchers had left Porirua at 6am and were to link up with another 100 vehicles from the Wairarapa, to arrive at Te Papa about 9am.

Co-operation between hikoi organisers and police had been "tremendous" and he expected the march and protest outside Parliament to be peaceful," Mr Drew said.

"Their intentions now are for a passionate conveying of their views, but I'm hopeful that apart from that it will go without incident."

Hikoi organisers had promised him the event would be peaceful and ordered.

More than 220 police had been called in to escort the hikoi and ensure the safety of all , and major traffic disruption was expected for the morning and around midday, Mr Drew said.

Kokiri Marae was organising soup and bread for marchers at Te Papa and thousands of food boxes for later in the day were being prepared from 6.30am, with donations accepted.

An internet website set up for the hikoi said that sand from all Ngati Kahungunu marae in the east of the North Island would be presented when the hikoi reached Parliament around midday, followed by speakers and entertainment.

Yesterday, another hikoi organiser Hone Harawira, said officials not allowing marquees to be erected on Parliament grounds for Maori elders could lead to the protest getting "ugly".

However, Parliamentary Service general manager Joel George said that erecting tents on Parliament's grounds was forbidden.

Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia and Associate Maori Affairs Minister John Tamihere were trying to broker a compromise on the issue by seeking an exception to the rules from Speaker Jonathan Hunt.

Mr George told NZPA he was confident Parliament's grounds could accommodate over 10,000 people as it had done so during protests in the 1980s.

Participants would be allowed to assemble on the Seddon Steps and the lawn area below that, but would not be allowed on Parliament's forecourt and steps.

Prime Minister Helen Clark has said she will not address hikoi participants today, many of whom she labelled as "haters and wreckers".

Mr Harawira said Miss Clark's comments had angered many hikoi participants.

Parliament will debate the Foreshore and Seabed Bill for the first time tomorrow. The bill, if passed, will place the foreshore and seabed ownership with the Crown.

- NZPA

Continuous updates