MP joins Aboriginal closures protest

Tame Iti (centre) joined fellow protesters in Auckland. Photo / Supplied

Maori Party co-leader and Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell took to the streets to protest the closing of remote Aboriginal communities.

Mr Flavell joined veteran activist Tame Iti in a hikoi in Auckland last week.

His co-leader, Marama Fox, was at the heart of the protests, marching in Melbourne, and will meet Aboriginal activists including the founder of the #SOSBlakAustralia protest movement.

Marches were also held in Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and overseas in cities including Los Angeles, Honolulu, Hong Kong, Berlin and London.

Preparations are being made to close scores of Aboriginal communities after the West Australian Government cast doubt on their viability.

Te Ururoa Flavell marched against the closure of Aboriginal communities. Photo / Supplied

Green Party MPs also took 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 last week attacked the planned closures.

"Tony Abbott is a racist b*****d 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."