- Tens of thousands of people from all around the country are expected to reach Parliament on Tuesday, in opposition to government policies affecting Māori.
- Hīkoi supporters are upbeat and positive as they used Monday's rest day to learn haka, waiata and create signs in Porirua.
- The Treaty Principles bill architect, ACT MP David Seymour, says he supports the right to protest, but thinks participants are misguided and have a range of different grievances.
- Māori Queen Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po will join the hīkoi's final stage to Parliament.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to converge on parliament on Tuesday, as te Hīkoi mō te Tiriti convoys come together in the capital.
Final preparations are being made in Wellington, ahead of the march on Parliament.
The hīkoi stopped in Porirua for a rest day on Monday, where about 1000 people took the opportunity to learn waiata, haka and create signs.
Hīkoi participants in Porirua on Tuesday. Some have travelled from Bluff in the south or Cape Reinga in the north, and many have joined them on the march to Wellington. Photo: Reece Baker
Among them was Te Koha O Te Moana Shortland, who sung on stage in front of the crowd.
She said despite the importance and meaning behind the hīkoi, spirits had been positive and upbeat throughout the day.
"For such a sad hīkoi, everyone here has like a really good wairua, everything's so happy, the vibes are vibing, the sun is out, we are all very warm - it's a great day," Shortland said.
Iris Pahau was among those out taking part in the hīkoi, in Porirua. Photo: Reece Baker
Also at Ngāti Toa Park in Porirua, where activities were taking place, was 75-year-old Iris Pahau, who was on the 1975 land march with Dame Whina Cooper almost 50 years ago, as well as the foreshore and seabed march in 2004.
She joined the hīkoi on Sunday in Levin, and planned to link up with other whānau coming through on Tuesday in car loads from Taumarunui.
Pahau said she felt the wairua of the hīkoi very strongly in her whole body, the moment she reached Porirua.
"Beautiful that we're here - for tangata whenua to be on tangata whenua land, it's beautiful. But a lot of it has been about akoranga: teaching our whānau what it is all about tomorrow. Me, my mokopuna, my tamariki - we're all going to be arm to arm on this hīkoi," she said.
People making banners at Porirua's Ngāti Toa Domain, on Monday. Photo: Reece Baker
The hīkoi had also gained momentum from many pākehā or tangata tiriti around the country, including Barbara Blake who is part of the group Te Tiriti is Us.
She described the atmosphere at Porirua Domain as beautiful and likened it to a festival.
She criticised the Treaty Principles bill architect, ACT leader David Seymour, saying his approach was not right.
"You can't break a bilateral agreement unilaterally, with just one party. That's wrong, that's legally wrong, that's morally wrong and that's culturally wrong."
Barbara Blake, right, with Rob Smith, took part in the hīkoi activities on Monday. Photo: Reece Baker
Speaking at the Beehive, Seymour told reporters although he supported the right to protest, the people on the hīkoi were misguided and there were a range of grievances.
"This has brought them together and given them some purpose. To some extent it is something that's been organised by Te Pāti Māori, but nonetheless, you know it looks like a peaceful protest - they've got a right to do it," Seymour said.
He said he was not yet sure whether he would speak to the crowds on Tuesday when they reached Parliament, and was waiting to assess the mood first.
"I'm in two minds, let's see what the vibe of it is. If there's an invitation from the organisers," Seymour said.
"I think if I sort of walk out there and they don't want to give me a chance to speak and so on, then you sort of wonder what you're doing there, but certainly I welcome the opportunity in principle."
A sign hung in Porirua, on Monday. Photo: Reece Baker
Among the crowds at Parliament will be the new Māori Queen, Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, who will join the hīkoi.
Kiingitanga spokesperson Ngira Simmonds said while it was uncommon for a Māori monarch to break the period of mourning following the death of their predecessor - in her case, her father - the Queen would advocate for more unity between Māori and the Crown.
"Equally she's keen to invite all of us across Aotearoa, wherever we are, to find a way to embody that tomorrow. Her presence - her hope is for one of unity and one of immediate action rather than just continued prolonged conversation," Simmonds said.
A contingent from Te Waipounamu, the South Island, made its way from Christchurch to Picton, with many travelling on to Wellington by ferry and arriving on Monday evening.
A group have travelled from the South Island to take part in the last stage of the hīkoi, in Wellington. Photo: RNZ/ Emma Andrews
On Tuesday, they planned to link up with the North Island group at Waitangi Park in central Wellington, and then to descend onto the steps of Parliament.
From here, the halls of power would feel the full force and wairua of Māoridom, organisers said.
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