Maori Party co- Marama Fox will march in a protest in Melbourne. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today
Maori Party co- Marama Fox will march in a protest in Melbourne. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today
Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox will be at the heart of world-wide protests against the closure of remote aboriginal communities.
Ms Fox will today march in a protest in Melbourne and meet with aboriginal activists including the founder of the #SOSBlakAustralia protest movement.
Marches will also be held in Auckland,Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, as well as overseas in cities including Los Angeles, Honolulu, Hong Kong, Berlin and London.
Preparations are being made to close scores of First Nations communities after the Western Australian Government cast doubt on their viability.
Ms Fox's co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell will march with veteran activist Tame Iti in a hikoi that will leave from Auckland's Britomart building at 5.30pm.
Green Party MPs are also taking part in New Zealand protests.
Co-leader Metiria Turei said New Zealand should call on Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to stop the closures.
"New Zealand should challenge abuses of indigenous rights internationally, especially when they are occurring in our own neighbourhood," Ms Turei said.
Mana leader Hone Harawira attacked the planned closures in a press release titled, "Tony Abbott is a racist bastard".
"Tony Abbott is a racist bastard for supporting racist policies against a people who are not in a position to fight back," Mr Harawira said.
"[He] says living in remote communities is a lifestyle choice, but that's a load of crap. John Key having a bach in Omaha is what you call a lifestyle choice."
