2 October 2004

The government's foreshore and seabed legislation discriminates against Maori, by taking away their legal property rights as a group. This is racist. No other group in New Zealand is having its rights taken away like this. These are the same tactics Western colonial governments used across Asia in the past to take away our historical rights to our lands.

Maori supported Asian and migrant communities on the anti-racist demonstration in Christchurch, and will support us again in Wellington when the National Front's anti-Asian protest goes to Parliament. Let us return the favour, and show that we can stand together with Maori on the common grounds of social justice. It's time to start building bridges between Asian and Maori communities - we have a lot to offer each other, and a lot of racism to resist.

Let's make our faces visible and come support the hikoi (march/walk) opposing this racist legislation, in solidarity with all those who fight against racism.

Sat 16 October

Assemble in Mayoral Drive (behind Aotea Square), Auckland City 9am. The hikoi commences at 10am and will proceed down Queen Street, Customs Street, Quay Street, Tamaki Drive (escort by waka taua), then up Kitemoana Street to Orakei Marae (Bastion Point). Music and bands when we get there.

Look for the signs in Chinese to join the Asian bloc.

Contact: Hannah Ho

For hikoi updates visit: http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/hikoi2.htm

For more info on the foreshore and seabed issue visit: http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/fsinfo.htm