Well-off iwi invited to lend hand

By RENEE KIRIONA

A leader of the foreshore and seabed hikoi has asked "wealthy iwi" to show how much they care about the march when it arrives in their areas.

Hone Harawira told those gathered at the Manukau Velodrome in Auckland yesterday that more resources were needed to make the hikoi more effective.

"Where I'm from [Ngapuhi], we are sending buses to Wellington and we are really pohara [poor].

"My call is for all of you to ask your iwi to do the same and maybe hire a few buses to get our people down there [to Wellington.]"

As the hikoi of about 1000 people set out for Huntly yesterday, preparations were being made in Hamilton for the scheduled noon arrival today.

The hikoi organiser for that area, Angeline Greensill, daughter of the late Maori rights activist Eva Rickard, agreed with Mr Harawira.

"The organisation has been wonderful. We have a team here, consisting mostly of students, who are managing everything but more help is needed from iwi who have the money," she said.

"Sometimes it can just be a struggle for people to put enough gas in their cars to get to Parliament, so every little bit helps."

Several people, including Pakeha, had offered barbecues, money and food to the Hamilton delegation.

Today's schedule

* 8.30: Leave Huntly, stop at Taupiri Mountain, convoy to Ngaruawahia, march through town centre, convoy to Hamilton, march down Victoria St to Garden Place.

* 1pm: Leave for Rotorua.