Following the biggest hīkoi to Waitangi in a generation

Every year a hīkoi, a Māori protest march, travels 230 km from the tip of the North Island down to Waitangi.

We followed this year’s hīkoi in the final few days of their journey, for what turned out to be the largest march in a generation.

“It’s about mauri, it’s about carrying that mauri and bringing it down,” says hīkoi organiser Reuben Taipari.

“The government has actually done us a little favour. We’ve been mamae (hurt) for a long time and it’s been a long time since we’ve had a gathering like this Waitangi.

“They're actually empowering our people to come together again, and give our people a righteous cause that surpasses settlements and money and all that rubbish. It’s always about rangatiratanga of our people.”

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