Tens of thousands of people have marched on the New Zealand parliament in Wellington to protest against a bill that critics say strikes at the core of the country\u2019s founding principles and dilutes the rights of M\u0101ori people. <\/p>\n
The H\u012bkoi m\u014d te Tiriti march began nine days ago in New Zealand\u2019s far north and crossed the length of the North Island in one of the country\u2019s biggest protests in recent decades. <\/p>\n
The traditional peaceful M\u0101ori walk, or h\u012bkoi, culminated outside parliament on Tuesday, where protesters implored lawmakers to reject the controversial Treaty Principles Bill that seeks to reinterpret the 184-year-old treaty between British colonizers and hundreds of <\/strong>M\u0101ori tribes. <\/p>\n The legislation is not expected to pass as most parties have committed to voting it down, but its introduction has triggered political upheaval and reignited a debate on Indigenous rights in the country under the most right-wing government in years. <\/p>\n Here\u2019s what you need to know: <\/p>\n Massive crowds marched through the New Zealand capital as part of the h\u012bkoi, with people waving flags and signs, alongside members of the M\u0101ori community in traditional clothing. <\/p>\n Police said about 42,000 people, a significant number in a country of about 5 million people, marched toward parliament to oppose the legislation. <\/p>\n Those attending described the march as a \u201cgenerational\u201d moment. \u201cToday is a show of kotahitanga (unity), solidarity and being one as a people and uphold our rights as Indigenous M\u0101ori,\u201d marcher Tukukino Royal told Reuters. <\/p>\n Protesters gathered outside parliament, known as the Beehive, as lawmakers discussed the controversial bill. <\/p>\n Last week, parliament was briefly suspended after M\u0101ori lawmakers staged a haka to disrupt voting on the bill. <\/p>\n New Zealand\u2019s Treaty of Waitangi is a document signed by the colonial British regime and 500 M\u0101ori chiefs in 1840 that enshrines principles of co-governance between Indigenous and non-Indigenous New Zealanders. <\/p>\n The treaty is considered one of the country\u2019s founding documents and the interpretation of its clauses still guides legislation and policy today. <\/p>\n Two versions of the text \u2013 in M\u0101ori, or Te Tiriti, and English \u2013 were signed but each contains differing language that has long sparked debate over how the treaty is defined and interpreted. <\/p>\n Unlike the United States, New Zealand doesn\u2019t have a written constitution. Instead, the treaty\u2019s principles have been developed over the past 40 years by successive governments and courts. <\/p>\n The agreement seeks to protect M\u0101ori interests, their role in decision-making and relationship with the British Crown. And courts have used the principles to redress M\u0101ori disenfranchisement and enact policies that seek to remedy social and economic disparities M\u0101ori face. <\/p>\n The Treaty Principles Bill was introduced by David Seymour, leader of the right-wing ACT New Zealand Party, which is a junior coalition partner with the ruling National and New Zealand First parties. <\/p>\n Seymour says he does not seek to change the text of the original treaty but argues its principles should be defined in law and should be applicable to all New Zealanders, not just M\u0101ori. <\/p>\n Supporters of the bill say the ad hoc way in which the treaty has been interpreted over the years has given M\u0101ori special treatment. <\/p>\n What\u2019s happening?<\/h2>\n
What is the Treaty of Waitangi?<\/h2>\n
What is the bill?<\/h2>\n