Brownlee is responsible for the Parliamentary precinct, including enforcing rules during demonstrations. Vehicles are not allowed on Parliament\u2019s grounds during protests. <\/p>\n
The Herald understands the group wants to try to ride horses on to Parliament to ensure their h\u012bkoi has maximum impact. <\/p>\n
From 11am, several gates leading to Parliament were closed to vehicles. <\/p>\n
The Ng\u0101ti Kahungunu-led group, which left Waim\u0101rama Marae in Hastings on Friday, comes armed with a petition titled: \u201cDo not remove or amend Te Tiriti principles or references in legislation\u201d, with more than 52,000 signatures. <\/p>\n
Ng\u0101ti Kahungunu Iwi chairman Bayden Barber leads the horse trek through Havelock North on the way to Parliament. Photo \/ Jack Riddell<\/p>\n
The demonstration is expected to be the last M\u0101ori protest at Parliament before the House rises in two weeks for the election, bookending a term marred by frequent protests from parts of M\u0101oridom against the Government\u2019s agenda. <\/p>\n
Ministers Paul Goldsmith and Tama Potaka said they would try to meet protesters today, dependent on their schedule. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey could have just picked up the phone; they didn\u2019t have to ride all the way from Hastings,\u201d Goldsmith said. <\/p>\n
Protesters on horses gathered outside Parliament today. Photo \/ Julia Gabel<\/p>\n
\u201cWe certainly hear their point of view and they are very perfectly welcome to protest as much as they like. But there has been lots of consultation around this and there will be more to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Potaka said there had been \u201ca lot of genuine concern, a lot of k\u014drero and wananga\u201d about the issue the group was protesting against. <\/p>\n
\u201cA part of that democratic process is to have a petition and bring those concerns to Parliament.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group, via its petition, is urging Parliament to reject proposals<\/a> to remove, amend or redefine references to Te Tiriti o Waitangi\/The Treaty of Waitangi or its principles in legislation, and ensure legislative or constitutional changes affecting the Treaty involve genuine consultation with M\u0101ori and the public.<\/p>\n The Treaty references review, part of NZ First\u2019s coalition agreement with National, is to repeal clauses in earmarked legislation or replace or amend them with more specific wording.<\/p>\n Goldsmith said the coalition Government did \u201cnot agree or accept\u201d that these bills weakened Treaty obligations. <\/p>\n \u201cOver the last 30 or 40 years, Parliament has made all sorts of references to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. Sometimes it\u2019s \u2018honour\u2019, or \u2018have regard to\u2019, or \u2018give effect to\u2019, or \u2018take into account\u2019,\u201d Goldsmith said. <\/p>\n \u201cWe need to create some consistency here, in the interests of increasing certainty and supporting compliance. A core foundation of our success as a nation is predictability in the law.\u201d<\/p>\n Vehicles and animals have featured in several past protests. In 2003, National MP Shane Ardern was told off by Speaker Jonathan Hunt after he drove a tractor up Parliament\u2019s front steps.<\/p>\n During the same farmers\u2019 protest<\/a> against the flatulence tax, National MP Lockwood Smith led cows on to the Parliament steps. One left its mark on the stairs, the Herald reported<\/a>, to the crowd\u2019s amusement. <\/p>\n Smith later became Speaker of the House from 2008 to 2013. <\/p>\n During the 2003 foreshore and seabed h\u012bkoi, which led to the birth of Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori, Prime Minister Helen Clark controversially opted to meet with famous merino sheep Shrek rather than protesters who had rallied at Parliament against her Government\u2019s marine and coastal area act changes. <\/p>\n The Ng\u0101ti Kahungunu-led h\u012bkoi is rallying against government policy they believe threatens the integrity of Te Tiriti. This includes the NZ First-led treaty reference review and sweeping RMA reforms. <\/p>\nThe h\u012bkoi to Parliament crosses Waipukurau bridge. <\/p>\n