“Some of us have been here before you were born, fighting for Maori land rights… so we're not here to apologise.”
Maori have organized a number of protests against the government's plans for what they see as a dilution of Maori rights.credit: New Zealand Herald/AP
The right-leaning government has policies to limit the use of the Māori language, incentives to learn it, abolish Māori public services and, most controversially, redefine how the Treaty of Waitangi affects the law.
Since the government was formed in November, Maori have organized a national day of protest, rallying around a once-in-a-decade royal proclamation from the Maori King for a national rally for unity.
Monday's meeting, an annual ritual in which government leaders travel to the far north, where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed on February 6, 1840, was always likely to be a flashpoint.
The local Maori tribe, the Ngapuhi, gave Luxon an enthusiastic welcome, with haka and waiata, or Maori song.
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The event attracted thousands of locals, many of whom carried signs stained with fake blood urging him to “respect the treaty.”
When the meeting began, Maori speakers challenged the government to reverse course.
“Our disingenuous strategy is to say it over and over again in every forum until it catches your attention and your subconscious: to protect the Treaty of Waitangi,” Rahui Baba said.
The minister responsible for the most controversial policy, David Seymour, initially ceded his speaking rights to party member Nicole Mackey.
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“What a joke, David Seymour, you should be ashamed of yourself,” interrupted a member of the crowd.
When he spoke later, the crowd was so enraged by his speech that they sang over it.
“You can sing, you can sing, and you won't be able to overcome a thought by singing,” he said.
“Let's be respectful and get the facts… Today I heard people say we are spiders, we are sand flies.
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“I'm sorry to say that even Donald Trump doesn't call his opponents sandflies. You should attack ideas, not people.
“See you next year. We can’t wait for the debate to continue,” he said as he left the stage.
Earlier, renowned Māori activist Tami Eti led an experimental hikoi – or Māori march – art walk to treaty land.
About 1,000 people joined, many carrying white flags.
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