TRANSCRIPT
Prayers as dawn awakened for Waitangi Day...known as New Zealand's national day, which drew the biggest crowd in three decades.
It was an early start at the birthplace of the nation...with many speeches.
"We recognise the struggle onto which all people must enter in every generation for all those who come to these shores may be included under the xxx of the treaty - drawn up, debated, agreed up and signed here at Waitangi"
The service was themed around unity and love...
Pita Tipene from the Waitangi National Trust.
"I think we really have to learn the context of Waitangi along with the declaration of independence 28th of October 1835 because what this is all about is learning about our history to move forward."
There were a few criticisms directed at the government by Dr Alistair Reese...who discussed the importance of mana - a term used by the Maori people of New Zealand relating to control and authority.
"This is a moment for our nation, a time when mana is being trampled. It is time to honour the treaty and unequivocally restore its mana."
New Zealand's prime minister, Christopher Luxon also gave a bible reading.
"The god has put the body together. Giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it. So that there should be no division. But that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honours, every part rejoices with it."
And once the sun was up…The festivities got louder.
This includes the waka voyage…where people paddled through the Bay of Islands.
A guard of honour that has escorted British royalty more than 150 years ago.
In 1840, Māori leaders gathered on the banks to sign a treaty with the Crown.
Today many of their descendants feel that pact is being threatened by the coalition.
With months of protests culminating.
And participating demonstrators have the message of 'keep up the resistance'.
"Pretty big, pretty impactful on our people. And to start the call, we’ve come about 8 hours to be here got in Sunday night and it felt like this is the year to be in Waitangi."
"Waitangi day to me means uh, a combination of things. Its similar to Australia Day in terms of an invasion of sorts. But also it showcases the bringing together of two cultures. The western culture and ours."
The hikoi, also known as a protest march, is the biggest in decades.
It started with just a few hundred people walking over 5 days...some 200 kilometres and picking people up along the way.
But they're united against new government policies they say are anti-Maori.
A demonstrator spoke to SBS News through an interpreter...about their thoughts on the new government.
"I'm not sure whether they listened, not sure whether or not there'll be positive changes either It’ll be interesting to see what happens with the change of government. So who knows what this government will be. It's a big wait and see."
Waitangi day has a long history of political protest and today was no different.
