Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has slammed plans for a day of disruption launched by Te Pāti Māori as “illegal”.
Te Pāti Māori is urging all Māori to go on strike on Thursday and participate in protest action across the country.
The Toitū Te Tiriti National Day of Action protesters willbe participating in “carkois” which entails driving slowly across roadways to disrupt traffic flow at peak times.
Te Pāti Māori encouraged all Māori to leave work and attend the hīkoi near their location.
Luxon will face questions from Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer at the start of Question Time today as Te Pāti Māori urge people to join the protest against the Government’s actions.
Asked whether the calls for strike action on Budget Day as part of the nationwide activation were appropriate, Luxon said: “No, that would be illegal.
”I think that is wrong – I think that is entirely wrong. Feel free to protest, that’s what we have weekends for. Te Pāti Māori, they’re completely free to protest as long as it’s legal.
”It’s pretty clear what the rules are around strike action and I would suggest to you that’s not one of them.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has slammed plans for a day of disruption launched by Te Pāti Māori as “illegal”. File photo / Mark Mitchell
Meanwhile, Labour MP Peeni Henare said the protest action was unsurprising given actions the coalition Government had taken, such as disestablishing the Māori Health Authority.
”I don’t know why anybody would be surprised.”
Participating in the protest was “up to each and every individual”, he said.
”But let’s be honest that what’s being lost here ... backwards views on Māori policies are what causes this kind of hurt for people so they’ll make their own choice whether or not they get out to support.”
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said any strike action needed to be within the confines of the law.
”But if people want to engage in their right to free speech, of course I encourage them to do that but I encourage them to do that within the law.”
In Auckland, protesters will meet at locations near motorway on-ramps, north, south and west of the city at 6.30am.
Traffic is expected to be gridlocked with protests planned on Auckland’s motorway network, and marches and convoys slated for other key transport points around the country.
Protests are planned for the following areas on Thursday,
West Auckland, BP Hobsonville.
South Auckland, Z Petrol station.
North Auckland, Palmers Albany Garden Centre.
Central Auckland, Aotea Square.
a mass hīkoi to Parliament in Wellington.
Whangārei, Farmer’s car park.
Kaitāia, Commerce St.
Christchurch, Bridge of Remembrance
Nelson, Church steps.
Dunedin, Queens Gardens
Hamilton, Kirikiriroa Marae
Matamata, Matamata Woolworths
Te Puaha, Weraroa Marae
Hauraki, Victoria Park
Tūranganui a Kiwa, Heipipi Park
Hastings, Hastings Clock Tower.
Wairarapa, Masterton Town Hall.
Hāwera, Hāwera Netball Courts
Palmerston North, SH1
Tokoroa. Leith Pl
Tauranga, Whareroa Reserve
Whakatāne, SH30
Ōpōtiki, Waioweka bridge
Taupō, Lake Terrace
Tūrangi, Tūrangi town centre
Rotorua, Lake Rd intersection, Old Taupō Rd, Fenton St and Sala St.
In Wellington, 1000 protesters gathered on Parliament grounds, where Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer addressed the crowd.
The convoys gathered about 7am in several cities and at traffic pressure points including near Auckland’s Northern Motorway at the Palmers Albany Garden Centre, near the Upper Harbour Motorway on Brigham Creek and Hobsonville Rds, and near the Southern Motorway at BP Bombay.
Further south, the Waikato Expressway suffered a 3km backlog after being blocked by about 50 cars. This had a “significant impact on traffic”, police said.
Hamilton, Whakatāne, Rotorua, Tokoroa, Taupō and Palmerston North also held gatherings of about 100 people each, with minimal disruption.
