Thousands march on New Zealand capital against Indigenous treaty overhaul

The Treaty Principles Bill has incited widespread protests, with around 10,000 participants marching towards the capital, illustrating the significant opposition to its implications for Maori land rights.

Critics, including Maori leaders, argue that the bill introduces racial discord by advocating for the same rights for non-Indigenous citizens, potentially undermining the unique status of Maori people.

During the heated parliamentary discussions, 22-year-old legislator Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke symbolically tore up the bill and led a haka, expressing deep cultural resistance to what she deemed a threat to Maori rights.

The ACT New Zealand party's push to revise the Treaty of Waitangi reflects broader societal tensions in New Zealand, as many Maori fear that their historical rights may be compromised.

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