Thousands gathered at Heipipi Park in the middle of Gisborne before walking to Te Poho o Rawiri Marae as part of the Tairāwhiti Hīkoi mō te Tiriti.
State Highway 1 was blocked this afternoon in both directions north of Wellington as the hīkoi mo te Tiriti heads south towards Parliament.
The New Zealand Transport Agency said just after 1.30pm the highway was congested and blocked between Tyne and Bath streets in Levin.
SH1 LEVIN, MANAWATŪ-WHANGANUI – CONGESTION – 1:35PM, SUN 17 NOV Due to Hīkoi traffic, SH1 is BLOCKED to both directions of travel in Levin township, between Tyne St and Bath St. Follow directions given by emergency services and allow additional time for travel through Levin. pic.twitter.com/dpsUCsDJdM
— NZ Transport Agency - Central North Island (@nztacni) November 17, 2024
At 2.20pm it issued anotherstatement saying SH1 was now fully open and thanking motorists for their patience.
A pōwhiri is being held at 4pm today in Porirua, welcoming supporters of the demonstration.
Police are expecting up to 30,000 people in Wellington on Tuesday, as the hīkoi makes its way to Parliament.
Today’s SH1 blockage follows widespread disruption in Auckland last week when thousands of hīkoi protesters marched across Auckland Harbour Bridge during the morning rush hour.
The Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti crosses the Auckland Harbour Bridge on day three of the hīkoi, which is making its way to Parliament in protest of the Government's Treaty Principles Bill.
Photo / Greenpeace Aotearoa
Protesters have also gathered today in New Plymouth as part of the hīkoi.
And earlier today close to 10,000 people marched on central Hastings and then down SH2 through Hawke’s Bay.
Police said there were no significant issues at Saturday’s march or the subsequent drive through Waipawa, Waipukurau and Dannevirke.
Police estimated 9000 people marched on central Hastings. Photo / Davide Conti - @imagesbydavide
The hīkoi, making its way to Wellington while protesting Government policies including the Treaty Principles Bill introduced by Act leader David Seymour, is due to arrive at Parliament on Tuesday.
The march began at the Hastings clocktower on a drizzly Saturday about 10am and had finished by around noon, bolstered by the original group and a convoy from the east coast.
In towns up and down State Highway 2 from Pakipaki to Takapau, locals then greeted the convoy by waving flags on the side of the road as it passed.
Flags were flying high at the protest. Photo / Paul Taylor
Supporters of the convoy greeted those participating on the roadside. Photo / Paul Taylor
The colour of the protest. Photo / Paul Taylor
Young and old came out for the protest. Photo / Paul Taylor
