Protesters objecting to the introduction of the ACT Party’s Treaty Principles Bill—aimed at codifying and, in some cases, overriding decades of common law on the Treaty of Waitangi—caused two northbound lanes on Auckland’s busy Harbour Bridge to be closed this morning.
Considered the founding document of New Zealand, the Treaty was signed between the British Crown and most Māori chiefs. There are also two versions—one in English and one in Māori—and they do not say exactly the same thing.
The bill attempts to define the Treaty’s terms according to the meaning “at the time they signed it,” with ACT Leader David Seymour aiming to cancel unique rights given to Māori people following more modern interpretations of the treaty.
The NZ Transport Agency and Police decided to close the lanes to separate the growing number of marchers from rush hour traffic.
While most people head south into the CBD in the morning, it caused gridlock in both directions for motorists, but many seemed supportive, tooting in support. The bridge was not fully reopened until midday (New Zealand time).
Streets in downtown Auckland were then clogged as protesters made their way through the city to one of two meeting spots.
Thousands of people joined the march—one of two happening simultaneously—and it took several hours for them all to cross.
The first group were led on by former Labour MP John Tamihere, now president of the Māori Party, and went across in groups of 250. Video shows the bridge swaying due to the number of footfalls. Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi was among the marchers.
Other protesters made their way across the harbour in waka (traditional Māori canoes) and small boats.
Senior Labour MP Willie Jackson posted on X that the number was “10,000, maybe more,” though police put the number at around 5,000.
Another group of people is heading from the bottom of the South Island, and the two groups plan to converge on Parliament to protest the introduction of the Bill.
Activists, academics, and lawyers have criticised it for overturning decades of decisions made by the Waitangi Tribunal and the courts, which have interpreted the Treaty for decades.
Protesters say they are also against other government policies that undermine the rights of Māori.
While the largest party in the coalition government, National, opposed the policy during the election campaign, it agreed during coalition negotiations to support the Bill being referred to a Select Committee.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has repeatedly said National will not back it past its first reading, meaning it is unlikely to gain enough support to become law.
Last week, the Waitangi Tribunal said the Bill represented “the worst, most comprehensive breach of the Treaty in modern times.”
