Many protesters carried signs or wore t-shirts saying “proud to be Māori”. But Māori were not the only ethnicity taking part, with Pākehā carrying signs reading support for Tangata Whenua and Te Tiriti.

By the time the hikoi reached Laurie Hall Park, there was several thousand people brandishing signswaving flags or just observing the festival type action.

Students from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o te Rawhiti Roa and Te Kapu Whetu led the welcome haka, while iwi groups such as Ngatiwai fueled the crowd with food and drink.

Despite waiting an hour to speak, hīkoi organizer Eru Kapa-Kingi received plenty of applause when he reminded people why the march was taking place and the impact it was already having.

The hikoi is making waves in Parliament, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon saying he I wanted to meet the organizers of the hikoihe said.

“It’s only the second day and they’re already nervous, they’re already feeling the pressure.”

Kapa-Kingi also spoke about Act leader David Seymour, who reportedly said he wanted to meet hīkoi organizers but they did not want to meet him.

He confirmed that this was correct.

“Why should we speak to ears that will not listen? why would we speak to minds that would not change; why would we talk about a power structure that should never have existed?

“This kaupapa speaks to us. I see each and every one of you and I’m proud of you,” he told the crowd. “This is our time and no one else’s.”

Kapa-Kingi encouraged the crowd to register and vote – and sign a petition against the Treaty Principles Bill.

“We walk to Parliament, but our journey does not end there. We are marching towards a future where our moko can live their best Māori lives,” he said.

“We are walking towards a promised land and we must get there in this life. »

The hikoi follows the path of Dame Whina Cooper but took a detour on Tuesday to visit Dargaville, in protest against the Kaipara District Council, which removal of Maori neighborhoods and karakia of meetings.

While most participants drove to each stop or only participated in their local activity, a small group of protesters ran between each stop.

The hikoi will reach Wellington on November 19, joining a hikoi from the South Island.

Denise Piper is a journalist for the Defender of the Northfocused on health and business. She has more than 20 years of experience in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.