Asians support 'treaty injustice'

An Asian group from Auckland joined Saturday's hikoi to show their support for Maori sovereignty, with Julie Zhu (right) and Mengzhu Fu (second from right). Photo / Peter de Graaf

An Asian group at Saturday's Waitangi Day commemorations is calling on New Zealanders of all origins to support Maori sovereignty.

The Auckland-based group Asians Supporting Tino Rangatiratanga took part in the traditional February 6 hikoi from Te Tii Marae to the Treaty Grounds, their banner sparking plenty of curiosity and discussion.

Group member Julie Zhu said the colonial injustice that was continuing in New Zealand included the recently signed TPP trade deal, which she said prioritised corporate rights over tangata whenua.

Many Asian countries had also suffered colonisation by Britain or other European powers, making it easier for people of Asian descent to understand the position Maori found themselves in today, she said.

Mengzhu Fu said failure to honour Te Tiriti (The Treaty) and He Whakaputanga (The Declaration of Independence) had led to a lot of injustice.

"We want to encourage other tauiwi (non-Maori), that aren't Pakeha, to support decolonisation and tino rangatiratanga (sovereignty)," she said.