Tens of thousands of people have marched on New Zealand’s capital against a bill to redefine Maori rights in one of the largest protests in the country’s history.Haka chants rang out across the 42,000-strong crowd as it moved through Wellington on Tuesday in the final stage of a nine-day 100km walk from the north,

One of the biggest protests in New Zealand history, led by Maori and with the support of diverse ethnicities and cultures, presented a petition signed by more than 200,000 people to parliament to “kill the bill”. Among those protesting was the Maori Queen Nga wai hono i te po.

The haka, often associated with New Zealand’s All Blacks rugby team, is much more than a pre-game ritual; it is a cornerstone of Maori culture, embodying history, identity, and emotion.