Waikato Tainui estimate at least 10,000 people have been welcomed onto Tūrangawaewae marae to participate in an Aotearoa New Zealand national hui called by Kiingi Tuuheitia.

Kiingi Tuuheitia extended the invite last month after iwi leaders highlighted the need for a unified response to coalition government policy impacting Māori and the 1840 Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The iwi say it is the largest contingent of people they have welcomed since the tangi of Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu in 2006.

A flood of people during the pōwhiri saw groups dispersed to the riverside and a series of overflow marquees all fitted with large screens, water, seating and shade.

Iwi representatives from across the country have spoken on the pae with some composing waiata and haka specifically related to the coalition government and the hui.

Taiha Molyneux, RNZ’s Māori news editor writes that this is the first of a series of national Hui A Iwi touch point and a reference for Māori for many many years to come.

Kiingitanga chief-of-staff Ngira Simmonds said Ngāruawāhia was buzzing with activity.

“It’s quite logistical magic to pull this off, and there are several marae involved in not only the hui itself, but the night before.

“Seven of our marae will be hosting some of the iwi that will be coming from a long distance, so it’s a big undertaking.”

Simmonds said: “This hui will probably be a touch point and a reference for Māori for many many years to come, we will all be able to say that at this time in this place we all agreed to this, and what we all know is there is power in kotahitanga.”

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Small groups of anti-mandate protesters are still lingering around Wellington after being cleared out of New Zealand’s Parliament precinct on Wednesday

The disparate collection of groups and individuals who took part in the protests are divided about what happens next.

Police say go home, and some protest groups like Voices for Freedom have told their followers the same thing.

However, about 30 to 50 vehicles were parked at Mahanga Bay on the Miramar Peninsula, and protesters there told RNZ reporters they planned to stay in Wellington “as long as it took”, though they were not sure what that might mean.

Several Wellingtonians told RNZ they were out this morning to keep an eye on the protest groups, and wanted them to leave.

Police say they will maintain a heavy presence at Parliament grounds, which is cordoned off and being treated as a crime scene.

About 20 minutes away from Parliament in eastern Lower Hutt about 100 protesters were in the suburb of Wainuiomata, gathered at a private property.

Attempt to gather at Wainuiōmata Marae
They had initially tried to gather at Wainuiōmata Marae, but a group of locals organised by the iwi headed them off at the gate saying: kahore he ara — there is no way, and calling for them to move on and go home.

Manager Teresa Olsen runs a busy covid-19 vaccination centre at the Wainuiōmata Marae, and said some of the anti-vax protesters had tried to get onto the grounds and were abusive to the iwi group at the gate.

“We’ve had a lot of the protesters go by,” she said.

“Everybody has the right to decide what they will do, and we have decided to be vaccinated, and we want the protesters to respect our right to do that.”

She said a group of iwi supporters would stay at the marae overnight to protect it.

Wellington deputy mayor Sarah Free told RNZ First Up she had also seen groups camped on the Miramar Peninsula.

“There are a few smaller groups of what looked like protesters — although they’re not protesting, they’re just there.

“We’re … hoping they’re going home quite soon. They’ve made their point, they’ve caused a lot of upset and some damage and the best thing they can do now is pack up and go home. I think it’s time to move on.”

To those protestors who attempted a takeover of Wainuiomata Marae? Go home you backdoor bandits! #endtheprotest

— Matthew Tukaki (@tukakimatt) March 3, 2022

Cost of protest damage not yet clear
It is unclear what the council’s final bill will be as the clean up around Parliament continues.

The protesters occupied Parliament’s grounds and surrounding streets for 23 days and their rubbish and damage is now being cleaned up.

Deputy Mayor Free said the cost would be made public when the total was known.

But while there was a list of things to get through like repairing the pavements, street furniture and lighting — there were other costs to consider such as business and consumer confidence in the area.

“I think Wellingtonians love their city … we’ve been blown away by the numbers of Wellingtonians who’ve actually wanted to help with the clean-up,” Free said.

“We are proud of our city, the work and the focus now is on restoring the damage, getting the mana of Parliament back and just keeping our city something we can all be proud of.

“But … there’s the damage done to businesses and to people’s confidence, and that’s what we’re really focused on restoring — we’re focused now on getting Wellington back to the place we know and love, and that can’t just be measured in dollars.”

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz