The Epoch Times
The Epoch Times
AD
The Epoch Times
Support Us
SHARE
World NewsAsia & Pacific

Nationwide Protests, Strikes Herald First Coalition Budget in New Zealand

Motorways have been brought to a halt, roads around Parliament closed, and extra police called in as a day of protest marks the delivery of the Budget.
Copy
Facebook
X
Truth
Gettr
LinkedIn
Telegram
Email
Save
Nationwide Protests, Strikes Herald First Coalition Budget in New Zealand
Protestors march down Queen Street in the Auckland CBD, protesting the Government's policies for Maori ahead of the Budget release in Auckland, New Zealand, on May 30, 2024. Phil Walter/Getty Images
Rex Widerstrom
By Rex Widerstrom
5/29/2024Updated: 5/29/2024

Protest rallies are happening across New Zealand as workers go on strike to protest the “anti-Māori policies” of the Coalition government ahead of Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ first Budget today.

Organised by Te Pāti Māori (the Māori Party), alongside an activist group calling itself Toitū Te Tiriti (Honour the Treaty), said in an online statement that the action was intended to “prove the might of [the Māori] economy by disconnecting entirely from it.”

Party leaders continued to encourage Māori people to strike despite the prime minister’s warning that it would be illegal to skip work to do so.

Streets in most major cities are full of protesters, many waving Rangitiratanga (sovereignty, self-determination) flags.

Traffic on the Auckland urban motorway was delayed this morning by a protest march, which organisers said was designed to “accomplish maximum disruption.” Similar delays were reported in other cities.

Amongst the grievances of the protesters are plans to remove mention of the Treaty of Waitangi from legislation, the recent disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority, the repeal of smoke-free laws introduced by Labour, and the Act Party’s bid to redefine the Treaty principles.

Related Stories
NZ Deputy Leader Decries ‘Separatist Hate-Filled’ Speech by Māori Party MP
5/7/2024
NZ Deputy Leader Decries ‘Separatist Hate-Filled’ Speech by Māori Party MP
NZ Māori Party Calls for a Separate Parliament
2/4/2024
NZ Māori Party Calls for a Separate Parliament

In Wellington, both leaders of the Māori Party addressed the crowd. Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said they needed a clear signal of assent to the party’s proposals, while Rawiri Waititi claimed the Crown had “set out to exterminate” Māori 100 years ago.

“They failed. We are 20 percent of the population. We are one million strong. When will we start to speak for ourselves? When will we start to lead ourselves to our own liberation? ... The time is now,” he said.

Onlookers cheered as he announced: “Today, the revolution starts. How dare they assume that they have sovereignty over a people who never ceded sovereignty to anyone?”

He claimed there was “an uprising of Indigenous truth and colour all over the world,” citing the unrest in New Caledonia and the war in Palestine.

He continued, saying there were “examples out there of how we can pull ourselves together” but that Maori people “must unite.”

The “Nationwide Activation Day” follows a meeting held earlier this year which criticised the government’s policies relating to Māori.

Commenting on today’s planned protests on May 28, Prime Minister Chris Luxon said he thought it was wrong for the Maori Party to encourage people to take the day off work to protest, given that it would breach employment laws.

“I think that’s entirely wrong. I think, feel free to protest, that’s what we have weekends for, but I just say to you: Te Pāti Māori, they’re completely free to protest as they want—as long as it’s legal and peaceable and lawful,” he said.

“But I’m not focused on that, I’m focused on making sure I deliver a budget for New Zealanders, whether they’re Māori or non-Māori, where they can see they can get ahead.”

Rex Widerstrom
Rex Widerstrom
Author
Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.
Author’s Selected Articles

Cook Islands Rejects Push to Enshrine Christianity in Constitution

May 22, 2025
Cook Islands Rejects Push to Enshrine Christianity in Constitution

Musk’s Starlink Cautioned on Record-Keeping by Australian Regulator

May 22, 2025
Musk’s Starlink Cautioned on Record-Keeping by Australian Regulator

NZ Slashes Social Spending as Surplus Is Pushed Further Out

May 22, 2025
NZ Slashes Social Spending as Surplus Is Pushed Further Out

Ukraine’s War Tactics Evolve Weekly—Why Isn’t Australia Keeping Up? General Asks

May 22, 2025
Ukraine’s War Tactics Evolve Weekly—Why Isn’t Australia Keeping Up? General Asks
Related Topics
anti-government protests
New Zealand
Treaty of Waitangi
Maori Party
New Zealand Budget
Rawiri Waititi
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Save
The Epoch Times
Copyright © 2000 - 2025 The Epoch Times Association Inc. All Rights Reserved.