Ihumātao protest in Wellington blocks street

2:50 pm on 24 July 2019

Protesters blocked part of a road near Parliament today in a dispute about contested land at Ihumātao in Auckland.

Ihumātao protest in Wellington

Demonstrators in Wellington supporting the protesters at Ihumātao blocked a street. Photo: RNZ / Te Aniwa Hurihanganui

About 300 people gathered at Parliament, and protesters blocked Lambton Quay. The roads have since cleared.

They are standing in solidarity with mana whenua protesting about a housing development planned by Fletcher Building at Ihumātao, in Mangere.

Wellington protest organiser Tamatha Paul said Māori ministers needed to step up and help resolve the dispute.

She is urging them to force the police to stand down, and get all parties together to resolve the issue according to tikanga Māori.

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson joined the crowd, saying she supports a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

A protest in Wellington over Ihumātao

Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas

Ihumatao Protesters

Actor Julian Dennison at the Ihumātao protest in Wellington Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas

Car blocking intersection

A car blocks an intersection near Parliament during a demonstration over the Ihumātao land dispute. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas

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