Hikoi - The Land March

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 10:53:43 +1200

On September 14, 1975, 50 marchers left Northland's Te Hapua led by the then 79-year-old Whina Cooper. By the time they reached Parliament on October 13, they had walked the length of the North Island and their numbers had swelled to 5000. In what was viewed by many as a watershed moment for New Zealand, the protestors presented a petition – signed by 60,000 people – to Prime Minister Bill Rowling calling for an end to the alienation of Maori land.

The march began an era of fierce conflict over Maori land ownership, which led to protestors occupying Auckland's Bastion Point and the Raglan Golf Course. Eventually the Waitangi Tribunal was set up to help resolve the land claims.

"I got here in 1979 just as Bastion Point was coming to an end and Raglan was kicking off," Bates says, adding he had always had an interest in subjects like land rights. "Also, I guess the Scots have an affinity or a similar history in our dealings with the English."

bi-politi by Dr Peter Boyd

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 13:27:32 +1300

bi-politi by Dr Peter Boyd

Maori medical students: 'It was just blatant, dumb-arse racism'

Thu, 30 Aug 2018 18:29:39 +1200

Radio NZ
29/08/2018

Category: Health and Counselling - mitmedia

Hikoi - The Land March

bi-politi by Dr Peter Boyd

Maori medical students: 'It was just blatant, dumb-arse racism'