I Hikoi’d across Bridge in 2004 and 2024 – here’s why it was different and why National should be worried
I think National should be very, very, very worried.
I first walked across the Harbour Bridge in support of Māori land rights during the Foreshore and Seabed Confiscation under Labour.
I remember the fury many Left wing Pakeha felt at this betrayal by Labour, to initiate the largest land confiscation in NZ History because the Right had lied to the electorate claiming ‘da Maaaaaaaaaarez is stealing da beaches’ was motivation enough to join the Māori Hikoi in 2004 across the bridge to stand in solidarity at injustice at the hands of the Labour Party.
I remember vividly that day in 2004 because every 10th car that whirled past carried with it a naked torrent of racist abuse that was my first real taste of how truly vile many of my Pakeha brothers and sisters could be when they thought they could speak their mind high on the Harbour Bridge without consequence.
Their red angry faces with blazing pinprick eyes are frozen in my memory of them. The way they leaned across their passenger seats to scream their frothy racist insults, the wildness in their abuse.
I turned to a fellow walker who had been at the 2004 Hikoi from the very start and asked in startled shock if what we were experiencing, this never ending abuse by furious white people was normal. He sadly looked at me, smiled at my naivety and said, “At least here they can’t swerve at you”.
I reflect upon that Hikoi across the Bridge 20 years ago and the Hikoi across the Bridge yesterday and the difference should really worry National, because this time, every 10th car wasn’t yelling racist abuse, every 10th car was shouting their support and encouragement!
Truck drivers, courier vans, Buss Drivers, ordinary average Kiwis in their cars, motorcyclists – all honked their support and cheered out their windows, fists of solidarity raised as they passed.
There was even support waka!
This was an amazing 30 000 – 45 000 strong Harbour Hikoi!
It was Māori led and Māori proud but it had Pakeha, disabled, the Gay and Lesbian community, Trans, Uni students, College Students, other Pacifica, children, rich, poor, old, young, Solo Mums, Solo Dads, family and whanau. Palestinian Activists, Fast Track Protestors, environmentalists and punks.
Labour was there, Willie Jackson was there, the Māori Party were there, the Green Party was there, Unions, Amnesty International, NGOs, civil society.
Everyone who matters was there.
My Daughter was wagging school and went on the protest as well (no one tell David Seymour).
I bumped into many old friends and made new friends.
It was disgraceful that Police minister Mark Mitchell threatened the Hikoi when it was loving, embracing and righteous.
National have horribly underestimated the pride and aroha many, many, many non-Māori feel towards their Māori Brothers and Sisters!
in 2004 it was racist NZ, in 2024 it is a supportive loving NZ that is not frightened by Māori.
ACT, National and NZF can denigrate the Treaty and play their political stunts, but the future doesn’t see Māori aspiration as a threat to our personal or collective identity.
What builds Māori up doesn’t tear any of us down.
We have nothing to fear by having a relationship with Māori, the Treaty is for ALL New Zealanders, it sets up the obligation of the State to stand up for ALL our rights and self sovereignty.
National have miscalculated terribly.
On the road up to 3 Lamps after the march, children at the local primary school lined the road chanting in solidarity ‘Let’s go Māori, let’s go” – this is the beautiful future of Aotearoa New Zealand.
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Excellent news go NZ dont get taken in by the vile shit these 3 racist pricks throw out there daily .We are winning the battle that started in 1845 then continued through the LAND GRAB WARS .I put up a sign yesterday in support of the treaty and to my amazement it is still there this morning .Looks like the local red necks are waking up to the truth .
Totally Martyn, large numbers now identify with Māori over te Tiriti.
I talk to my old friend Hone Harawira most weekends at Kaitaia Market and he laughs too at the number of supportive pakeha and tau iwi. Unity in action between Māori and non Māori has long been the nightmare of the NZ ruling class.
I think you mean Three Lamps. Three Kings is miles away.
But we won’t quibble. Quibbling is seymour’s speciality.
The govt allows, in fact causes, all this trouble about the Treaty then Luxon has the cheek to say it’s distracting the govt. from dealing with all the ‘hard issues’ it says it’s trying to deal with.
What he means is, that after squeezing the life out of everything, how they are going to make it look as if we still have a public health system and education system etc.
But I digress.
You caused the distraction Mr. Luxon with your inability to drive a hard bargain. You were had.
Some of us wonder what is being done while we are all concentrating on the Hikoi and whoever allowed the reading to be brought forward to today, should resign too.
There looks to be a lot of bad-faith dealing going on here. Some would say, trickery.
You have created enough uncertainty and division so do yourself a favour National, and kill that bill today.
Try to save some credibility, heaven knows you don’t have much left.
The claytons sales and mergers guru at work ,he is a fucken joke .
ka pai e hoa
Thanks for the on the spot report and pics Martyn. Good news summarised by the 10th car example. Awful how hot and vociferous people can get when letting it go at some target they feel free to abuse, and now just the opposite you feel. National don’t understandm because they are not only thick but too self-absorbed, how much they have pushed thinking people away from their POV towards Maori.
Pakeha are feeling more and more after this Natatact misalliance and snotty balls-up, that we could work out things bi-culturally with Maori giving room for other cultures also. Any problems, we could work them out and be linked together for a combined effort to cope with whatever is ahead. Not the same as with National’s menu, but far better and perhaps with limited tastings of toheroa if they aren’t under rahui to preserve them.
I have to agree with you Martyn, although a change in popular sentiment was signaled at the time of the Ihumaatao occupation four years back. Even then it was not a new phenomenon. Despite all the rhetoric about “white settlers” most Pakeha have never been uncritical supporters of the colonialist project, and given a choice between the Treaty Principles Bill and Te Tiriti as it was written they will opt for the latter. The widespread approval of the tino rangatiratanga and whakaminenga flags says to me that this is a watershed moment for this country. A clear majority are fed up with the antics of the colonialist parties, who are no longer in any way representative of the people of our nation.
We are coming into an interesting time. Will the colonialists see which way the wind blows and change tack accordingly? Will tangata motu realise that they now have the upper hand and act decisively and yet magnanimously to secure their advantage?
Awesome commentary!!! Yeah so great to see and hear all that!!! The kids along the fence chanting their support and being let to do that is really incredible.
How did this folly of a rable government get in power?? All eyes swivle to Labours terrible failure. Willy Jackson for leader and then PM. That will save us.
Make no mistake, NRA & Koch /Atlas are spending up large here to try and roll out the same kind of MAGA disaster that USA has now. Greedy power from offshore wants to get hold of our state assets, privatise health & water, and keep the workers poor and oppressed. Key – Thiel, Key – Trump, Key- Luxon. NZ is being stitched up.
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