2024 – A year of Māori led resistance 

Role Funding:

Last year’s election was forged during post-Covid bitterness and cost of living economic pain.

In their anger at Labour, people voted for political parties without understanding the policy dynamics.

It has led to a National, NZF and ACT Government whose policy combination and personalities have created an anti-Māori, anti-Treaty, anti-Worker, anti-Renter, anti-beneficiary and anti-environment agenda where the common good has been traded in for their donors interests.

It was Māoridom who recognised the true nature of this Government and it was Māoridom who led the resistance.

From the moment this Government was sworn in, Māori were protesting the direction of their policy.

Throughout the year Māori have gathered for hui to debate and plan and that year of activism resulted in 84 000 marching at the Hikoi, which makes it the largest protest in New Zealand history.

A protest that large can’t simply be Māoridom. That protest size tells us that there is a huge cross section of civil society who stand with Māori and who see the Treaty as a source of hope and celebration, not as a point of division.

That has been the secret to this protest’s success. It has most definitely been Māori led, but it was open to every one who supports the Treaty, and that has allowed a genuine mass movement.

In a year of economic hardship and counterproductive policies that benefit the wealthy at the expense of the poor, solidarity together meant more than ever before.

ACTs divisive political stunt has shown us what they stand for, but it’s also reminded us who we are as well.