2025-04-15
27 分钟A raw energy is felt through the heart of Wellington, New Zealand's capital.
Maori warriors, karaka, come in waves, wooden taiaha or clubs raised, lost in the haka, their ceremonial dance.
Following them, a mass of supporters waving flags on this hikoi, this march of defiance.
After walking for nine days across the country, they're now moving towards parliament,
driven by what they see as a promise in a treaty signed 185 years ago,
broken again by a proposed new law seeking to weaken their rights.
Behind the warriors are tens of thousands of marchers,
people from across New Zealand and actually all different ethnicities who have come together to display a joint sentiment about the bill and what it means for New Zealand.
My name is Erin Matariki Ka, I'm Ngai Tuhoe and Ngati Awa and I'm Pa Keha.
One of our chants was what do we want, koutahitanga, koutahitanga means unity.
When do we want it, now.
And that's what you'll feel here, you just feel peace,
you feel strength and it feels like our Tipuna, our ancestors are with us.
Welcome to the documentary from the BBC World Service, I'm Alex Van Vell with Assignment.
I followed this huge protest march over Maori rights to understand New Zealand's reckoning with affirmative action and why it suddenly shattered the Wellington Khan and got global attention.
My name is Mary and I'm here to support the protest.
I'm not Māori, I'm Samoan but I'm here to stand in unity with the Māori people.
A dramatic shift in politics last year underpins this historic march.
New Zealand has moved from a liberal government actively recognising Māori rights to a conservative coalition actively denying them,
a backlash empowered by a decisive vote or rejection of the previous government's progressive policies.