EXPLAINER: Why Māoris Are Uniting to Protest the Proposed Treaty Bill

Although New Zealand’s Māori population is usually seen as homogenous, they are not. Many tribes are not part of the Kīngitanga movement (Māori King movement), and don’t see King Tuheitia as their leader. So when the king called a hui (meeting) at Tūrangawaewae to discuss the government’s proposed Treaty Principles Bill, it was initially expected that perhaps 3,000 people would attend. Yet Māori people came from all over New Zealand—from all the major iwi (tribes)—intent on setting aside any differences and uniting to oppose the legislation when it is introduced. Estimates put the eventual number at 10,000....