Hīkoi mō te Tiriti in front of the Beehive

This photograph was taken on the last day of the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington, on 19 November 2024.

It was one of many taken by Te Papa photographers to document the diversity of people, imagery and messaging on the Hīkoi. They captured images as people gathered at Waitangi Park in the early morning and the march of thousands of protesters along city streets to Parliament grounds where politicians were gathered and speeches took place.

This particular photograph shows protesters in front of the Beehive at the conclusion of the Hīkoi in Parliament grounds. Many are carrying flags including the Tino Rangatiratanga flag and the United Tribes of New Zealand flag. Two people in the foreground are wearing the United Tribes flag and the flag of Sāmoa as capes.

Background

The Hīkoi was in response to the ACT Party's controversial Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill released in 2024. The recently-founded group Toitū te Tiriti called for a Hīkoi which began in Te Kāo, Northland, on 10 November, finishing in Wellington on Tuesday 19 November, where more than 42,000 people marched from Waitangi Park to Parliament grounds to protest against the Bill (1).

Afterwards, over 300,000 submissions on the bill were received by Parliament, with 90 percent opposed to it. The bill was voted down in Parliament on its second reading on 10 April 2025 (112 noes to 11 ayes) (2). Every party except for ACT voted against it.

References:
(1) McCaull, A. (20 Nov 2024). 'What's good for Māori is good for everyone' - hīkoi ends with peaceful protest. RNZ News (online).
(2) RNZ (11 April 2025). Celebrations at defeat of divisive Treaty Principles Bill. RNZ News (online).