Te Arawa has mounted a strong protest against the National Government's proposed sale of state-owned enterprises in a united show of emotion and anger.
More than 250 protesters joined the Aotearoa Is Not For Sale hikoi yesterday morning, marching from the Rotorua Lakefront down Tutanekai St, along Amohau St and
making stops at City Focus and outside Rotorua MP Todd McClay's electorate office.
Activist and Mana Party president Annette Sykes said the protest massed under the name of Nga Tai o Te Reinga.
"This was an old Te Arawa military formation that was formed whenever Te Arawa were in times of stress.''
In recent years, the group was established to protest against various issues, including the foreshore and seabed legislation.
Yesterday's protest was mainly targeted at the proposed sale of up to 49 per cent of state-owned energy companies Mighty River Power, Genesis Power, Meridian Energy and Solid Energy.
The loud, colourful and often angry march set off after performing the traditional haka Te Arawa E and Ka Mate. Further haka were performed along the route including a very angry rendition outside Mr McClay's office, where several protesters broke through a loose police cordon.
The protesters carried a coffin with the words "workers' rights'' and "social welfare'' written on it, which symbolised their feelings that these rights were dying.
Adding to the noise of protest chants and haka was the growl of three large motorbikes. Motorbike rider Te Hau Taiatini, from Ngati Pikiao, said he had spent more than 30 years in prison for fighting the police but now he was fighting for something different.
"I'm sticking up for the rights of our people and for our whenua.''
Former Rotorua woman Raima Hape of Ngati Whakaue descent flew up from Christchurch.
"I came back to my turanga waewae [place of belonging] especially to protest and be with my whanau. We don't want any of those sales to happen. They should be kept for our children.''
Mrs Hape said she did not want the land to be sold to overseas interests.
"If that happens we'll have the Chinese and Asians running our country and there'll be nothing for the generations growing up.''
Whakatane mother of three Maraea Davies, who is also of Te Arawa descent, was protesting against the contentious oil drilling method of fracking and deep sea oil drilling.
Rotorua hikoi spokesman Bernie Hornfeck said he was pleased with the turnout and especially at the different groups represented, which included the Green Party, the Mana Party, NZ First, the Labour Party, the Maori Party and the New Zealand Socialist Party, as well as unionists and environmentalists.
"I'm really pleased that all these groups stood together to take on the Government and the sale of assets. It's a good turnout for a Monday and especially for a working day.''
The march dispersed at the park on Amohau St, with a group travelling on to Turangi. A smaller group headed to Gisborne to meet a Te Whanau a Apanui protest group from Te Kaha.