'How much longer?': Dunedin group joins Budget Day protest

Hundreds of people have marched from Queens Garden to the Octagon in Dunedin as part of nationwide protests against the government's policies on Māori.

Many were carrying Tino Rangatiratanga flags and were dressed in traditional korowai and feathers.

The hikoi swelled to fill Princes St and the protesters were chanting as they walked towards the Octagon.  

The 300-strong protest then assembled under a banner saying Honour The Treaty to listen to speeches.

Addressing the crowd, Mana whenua representative Rachel Wesley said: "Do we really want to keep handing this fight to our mokopuna in the generations to come?

"I did a quick count up - it's about seven or eight generations. How much longer?

"The best revenge, the best war tactic, is having better mana. I want us to embody that as a part of this movement."

Former Dunedin mayor Aaron Hawkins also spoke.

"Don't let your representation debate get hijacked by angry well-resourced racists," he said.

"Our society is not operating on a level playing field. But the government can't acknowledge that because then they will have to live on it."

Thousands of protesters have turned out around the country today for the second National Action Day aimed at government policies and rhetoric toward Māori.

It is the second time Māori have mobilised on a national scale to protest the current government's policies, with the first hikoi taking place last December.

Hīkoi, or "carkoi", have disrupted traffic and city centres with protests planned from Kaitaia down to Dunedin, each with their own coordinator.

The national protest coincides with today's budget announcements.

Protestors gathering at a "carkoi" in West Auckland were yelled and sworn at by people passing by, RNZ's Māori news editor Taiha Molyneux said.

Molyneux was at the Hobsonville "carkoi" - or hīkoi on wheels - which set off for Auckland's CBD just after 7am. Another group departed from South Auckland.

She told RNZ's Morning Report there was a big turn out, more than were there for the December event.

The kaupapa of the event was to be seen and heard, not to disrupt, and the discussion before departing was about being peaceful, Molyneux said.

"They're coming together and demonstrating what they're wanting to talk through."

Despite that, some members of the public going past this morning had yelled and sworn at the group.

Molyneux says the response from protesters was positive, waving to the people.

She says protesters she spoke to expressed their frustration that "the government doesn't seem to be listening and is pushing forward with its agenda".

More locations continue to be added, including some in Australia, with more than 40 events now planned, Molyneux said.

Lady Tureiti Moxon, in Hamilton, said there was a "huge huge procession" marching 3 or 4km to Waikato University.

"The wairua is flowing, the people are happy, and the people are very very united in the fact that this is something that we all need to do together."

She said people were flying flags and the "line (of people) is tremendous, it's huge".

One Auckland protester called on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to "do something" about his coalition partners.

"Luxon this is all on you, you have got into an agreement with two racist parties and this falls on your head.

"Pull them in line, because we’re not putting up with this anymore."

Another said he was "distressed about the government attacking rights".

One Pākehā protester said he wanted to take a stand with Māori.

"The Government is trying to put through a bunch of frankly racist policies, and I think māoridom and māoritanga is one of the most unique and special things about New Zealand and if we lose that then what are we doing? We need to stand up."

- Additional reporting RNZ