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Maoris protest 'land grab'
Wednesday 05 May 2004, 15:21 Makka Time, 12:21 GMT
Bare-chested Maori warriors in flax skirts have led thousands of people in a protest against a plan to put much of New Zealand's coastline under public control.
Maoris are adamant the policy is a 'cancellation' of their rights
The government's controversial plan to make public the seabed and coastline not already in private hands follows a court decision last year that opened the way for Maori people to claim legal ownership.
"This is the straw that broke the camel's back. We've had enough. Every time Maori get some advantage it's taken away from us," march organiser Pita Sharples said.
"This was so blatant with the cancellation of our rights, the cancellation of due process - it's theft."
The government says its coastline policy is aimed at guaranteeing public access and use of land not privately owned while accommodating traditional Maori activities such as food gathering.
The protesters, estimated by police at more than 15,000, crammed the grounds of parliament to denounce the government's plan.
Non-Maori support
Led by about 50 Maori warriors carrying traditional spears, protesters blew conch shells, chanted and waved banners claiming the coastline as Maori property.
The march, known in Maori as a hikoi, started two weeks ago at the top of the North Island and was joined by people, including a sprinkling of non-Maori, from all over the country.
The crowd, including tribal elders resplendent in traditional feather cloaks, school children and businessmen in grey suits, braved occasional showers and gale force winds.
Prime Minister Helen Clark on Monday labelled some of the march organisers "wreckers and haters" and did not meet any of the protesters, although several Maori members of her Labour Party joined the crowd.
A junior Maori minister, Tariana Turia, last week quit the government in opposition to the policy. She intends to resign her seat in parliament, forcing a by-election.
Another Labour Maori member of parliament has said she will vote against the legislation.
End to special rights
Maoris make up about 15% of
New Zealand's 4 million population
Maori, who make up about 15% of New Zealand's four million population, have traditionally been strong backers of centre-left Labour.
All seven seats in parliament reserved for Maori are held by Labour, although Maori MPs of all parties have been pressured to vote against the law.
Labour has trailed in recent opinion polls after the new leader of the centre-right National Party, former central bank governor Don Brash, called for an end to special rights and preferential treatment for Maori.
Maori say the policy is a land grab and a breach of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, under which the British Crown gained sovereignty over New Zealand but guaranteed Maori use of their traditional lands and resources.
A march in 1975 by Maori about land grievances brought about law changes which have resulted in multi-million dollar settlements for illegal confiscations and breaches of the treaty.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/7F8E1C1F-8B47-4A87-9A2B-C0B6D8A658B2.htm
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