The Aucklander's staff join thousands at Monday's hikoi
It's 10.10 on a rainy Monday morning at Victoria Park. A rugby league team trains on the field, heads low as they trudge through their drills.
Within 30 minutes they will be outnumbered by hundreds of people dropped off by car and coach at the infill land that used to be called Wai Ata Rau, the reflecting waters. These people are hoping to reflect on their dissatisfaction with the Government.
They have been mobilised by the decision to scrap a Royal Commission's proposal to assign seats to Maori at the table of the new Auckland-wide council.
Representatives of tribes from Hauraki gather in dozens, their tino ranga tiratanga flags rolled onto poles. Kuia Betty Williams says Hauraki Maori hold spiritual rights to the land she's standing on: ``How dare this Government say that some stranger - some foreigner - can sit at the table in our place?'
The sports pavilion fills with pro testers sheltering from the rain. Staunch- looking Api Johnstone, 42, from Whangarei, wears a scarf over the lower half of his lower face: ``I'm here on behalf of my people. The Government are crooks.'
The crowd is orderly, but keen to get going. Fifteen minutes before they walk out of Victoria Park, more groups run to join the throng.
A bullhorn incites: ``When treaty rights are under attack, stand up, fight back.'
Aperahama Neho, 18, leads a war party of taiaha bearers at the front. They stomp and jeer as they move through the park to Fanshawe St. A conch shell sounds from within the hikoi.
The smell of damp leaves and mud from the park gives way to the scent of wet tarmac, petrochemicals and chipseal.
Outside the Tepid Baths, two women from Westmere watch. Jackie Vallance and her friend, Sue Elliott, believe the Maori message has been lost in much of the media coverage.
By now, more than 2000 people are in this branch of the hikoi as it arrives at Customs St. As they sight other strands at QEII Square the blood rises with chants, screams and song.
Along Tamaki Drive, the mighty pohutukawa stood guard as Ngati Wha tua walked as one.
But they were not alone. Among the protesters from Orakei were politicians, anarchists, concerned citizens and hundreds of young children.
Ruka Tokomikahere is 11. Her mum, Bernadette Jacobs, took her out of school for the day so that her education could continue: ``This is about learning the lost art of protest.'
Sitting on her grandfather's shoulders, 4-year-old Hazel Jade may not remem ber the sea of people, the noise, the spirit carrying the protesters forward. But her grandfather, Frank Waitai, promises he will tell her all about it. ``This is a significant moment in history.'
Waiting in her wheelchair where the parties converge is Dr Huhana Hickey, wearing a Maori Party jacket. At the other end of the square, Paul Morehu of Massey has taken the morning off work to march.
``We're marching on behalf of every one, not just for Maori,' he says. ``It could've been a nicer day, but people will still come.'
Hikoi coordinator Ngarimu Blair is waiting outside Britomart. ``We're expecting 5000 people. People have come together - Maori, Pacific Islanders and Aucklanders in general.' Later estimates will top that number. Easily.
The rain is heavier and it doesn't stop.
Veteran protester George Shierny, 88, from Milford, is warm in a big coat. ``If I think there's something wrong, I like to try and do something about it,' he says.
At 11am, 200 people bearing bright green balloons come out of the station. Mark O'Connor is carrying one end of a bright green ``Save Papakura' banner.
Ten minutes later, the march from Bastion Pt meets the gathering in the square.
An interested bystander at the Queen St intersection is Auckland City councillor John Lister. He's giving Auckland Mayor John Banks regular cellphone reports, passing on the mood of the people.
The police presence is visible in yellow but low-key. Constable Ana Blackbourn from Orewa greets her friend, Frances Waaka, warmly. Mrs Waaka is exhorting bystanders to buy T-shirts and join the hikoi.
The three arms of the hikoi merge and wait 20 minutes before the noon start up Queen St to the Town Hall.
Mr Banks did not come out of the Town Hall to watch other mayors, Len Brown, Bob Harvey, Callum Penrose and Andrew Williams, in the hikoi.
His spokesman, Stephen Rainbow, says the mayor invited representatives of Ngati Whatua to his office but this was declined.
Ngati Whatua spoke with their feet, their thousands of friends and their oratory on the street outside.
28 05 2009
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