Budget Day protests: a call to action across Aotearoa

Thousands of protesters are expected to “activate” today for the second National Day of Action, taking aim at government policy and rhetoric towards Māori.

This is the second national-scale Maori mobilization, with the first hikoi taking place in December last year.

Hīkoi, or “carkoi”, is expected to disrupt traffic and city centers with protests planned from Kaitaia to Dunedin, each with its own coordinator.

The nationwide protest coincides with today’s budget announcement.

On Sunday, calls for action began to appear on social media, with organizers eventually publishing a post on Instagram asking “all Māori and Tangata Tiriti to go on strike that day to prove the power of our economy.”

The posts were published jointly by the organizers and Te Pāti Māori.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon warned citizens on Tuesday not to break the law during protests.

“It would be illegal,” he said, pointing out that “it is quite clear what the rules apply to strike action.”

“I think that’s completely wrong; “I think – feel free to protest, that’s what we have weekends for, but let me just tell you: Te Pāti Māori, they have complete freedom to protest however they want – as long as it is legal and peaceful and within the law.”

Speaking to RNZ’s Mata podcast, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said the government’s focus on the illegal word “strike” was an attempt to overshadow the real kaupapa behind the nationwide call to action.

“If we stay in the weeds with this korero, if we are scared, we will never, ever break with this racist kāwana agenda and how it treats our whānau and whenua. Yes, it challenges our own thinking, but we have to stand up.” Ngarewa-Packer said.

Rawiri Waititi said people should reaffirm their “rangatiratanga” and employers who penalize workers for participating will pose a challenge.

“Look, if employers want to get into labor law, well, we can wrap you in the Bill of Rights, we can wrap you in human rights, we can wrap you in Tiriti violations, let’s go, but we’ve got to be brave enough and start preaching rangatiratanga.”

National secretary of the Public Services Association, Kerry Davies, said every worker – including all public servants – had the right to take part in protest marches and be politically active.

“There is no conflict with public sector workers’ obligations of political neutrality and their ability to exercise fundamental rights and freedoms, such as taking part in industrial action. The New Zealand Rights Act 1990 applies to public servants in the same way as to anyone else.

“It’s no surprise that many groups want to protest against the actions of this government, given their reckless approach to cuts to public services we all rely on and their disregard for Te Titiri o Waitangi,” Davies said.

At the RNZ checkpoint on Wednesday, Deputy Police Commissioner Mike Johnson said police wanted to work with organizers to ensure the safety of all involved.

“We work with organizers wherever we can, across the country.”

“Our approach will be district-by-district, with some national coordination. We continue with what we had in December and use that as a foundation.”

Johnson urged commuters to plan for delays and adjust their travel routes accordingly.

The police will inform travelers via social media whenever possible, he added.