麻豆社

M膩ori in New Zealand have been resisting moves by the current right-of-centre government to abolish certain indigenous-specific rights aimed at combatting disadvantage.

In a 9-day hikoi or march of defiance they walked from the top of New Zealand down to the capital Wellington, joined by non-M膩ori supporters - all opposed to the changes.

A separate M膩ori Health Authority has been dismantled, for example. It was set up by the previous centre-left government to tackle health inequalities that mean indigenous people live seven years less than other New Zealanders. M膩ori also come bottom in statistics for employment, housing and education, and are highly overrepresented in prison.

Most divisive though, a new law proposal about the principles of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi - New Zealand鈥檚 founding document, sought to do away with what has been a form of affirmative action, and instead treat everyone the same, regardless of heritage.

Some feel this is all necessary to achieve proper equality. Others feel that M膩ori progress will be undone and inequality or inequity entrenched.