The 501 Hīkoi which began in Sydney on Thursday has now reached Queensland. Approximately 40 local Māori made their way to the Upper Coomera Community Centre to show the vast distance that the journey will cover, doesn't faze them.
After a brief welcome concluding with a hymn, the Gold Coast 'Hīkoi 501' consultation hui got under way.
Erina Morunga – Ngapuhi says, “well it's a long drive obviously we travelled over 800 kilometres yesterday but there's a real sense of we're actually doing it now we've been talking about this for months.”
Their mission is to simply make the Australian government sit up and pay attention to some of their concerns.
Kelvin Davis - Labour MP Taitokerau Our whānau are still being affected and oppressed by some of the laws here. Some are still being held in detention centres, so this is a meeting to enlighten and inform the greater communities.
“A great misunderstanding of immigration law is that it's targeted at migrants, immigrants but when it's coming into your own home and you are a citizen of this nation and yet you're all citizens, except for mum or dad or brother or sister and yet they are being pulled up, they are all affected as well,” says Morunga.
Surprisingly, even Australian citizens are supporting this.
John Tyson says, “Kiwis can't vote, like you know where does the voice come from? Okay we'll just write the legislation ourselves, and you'll love it, is bascially the message that's loud and clear on the piece of paper.”
But, what exactly will this hīkoi achieve?
“I think our story is we just want to go around this country and start lighting fires, you know getting the conversation happening, we want to take it out to the people, do the face to face stuff, kanohi ki te kanohi.” says Morunga.
“This is to assert more awareness amongst greater Australia and our expat communities so we're united in our stance on this matter,” says Davis.
Only time will tell as to whether or not the Australian government will heed their concerns or turn a deaf ear. The hīkoi will leave Brisbane tonight and then continue onto Townsville as well as some other major states, including Darwin, Perth, Melbourne and finally finishing up in Canberra on April 19.