Thousands gathered this morning for mass nationwide protests called by the Te Pāti Māori party. The protests were planned against Government policies labelled “anti-Māori”. The hīkoi brought peak-hour traffic to standstills in various parts of the country.
Protests caused gridlock across Auckland’s motorway network
![National Māori Action Day protesters gathered on Mangere Bridge in Auckland on Tuesday morning. Photo / Jason Dorday](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/WLG7Y2LUCJC47LTGQ4RWO6H5ME.jpg?auth=43a9fddda9e6d70b6c04b35e29b3d6f7ff60ee1d09d1135b30f8c1d2a739aaf9&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
![About 200 protesters remained on Mangere Bridge at 10am. Photo / Jason Dorday](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/3CSKAA4SBNH2DOYKDRESWQSFHU.jpg?auth=bdca62afda2376361a33494906f1dcacc4063b7407c9c425951c7cfe9b226c97&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
![Protesters were seen leaving Hobsonville heading towards the city in the morning.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/DUPGO42ZNFH4HK2SLV426QXLR4.jpg?auth=efe58371842da7771e95f1602580db8e57937f7f399290b2176e529f95815930&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)