The Church and iwi have joined forces to "unequivocally" oppose the Bill which they say reinterprets the 184-year old Te Tiriti o Waitangi - the Treaty of Waitangi.

The Bill, which sets out proposed principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in legislation, is repeating historic mistakes the Church and iwi say.

On Thursday, Parliament was suspended briefly during the Bill's first reading as Maori MPs staged a haka to disrupt the vote.

Once order was restored, the Bill passed its first reading and will be voted on again next year.

It is not expected to go through a second reading as National and NZ First say they will not support it beyond the first.

Rewriting a sacred covenant

The Bishop of Wellington Justin Duckworth and Assistant Bishop of Wellington Anashuya Fletcher said "For us, the Treaty is a sacred covenant".

The Bill's misinterpretation of the Treaty between the British Crown and Indigenous Maori undermines "this sacred covenant" and diminishes "the mana of our forebears and all parties who signed it".

They agree the Treaty Principles Bill "has echoes" of a far-reaching judgement which the long-dead supreme court judge Sir James Prendergast made in 1877 concerning the Treaty, Ngati Toa and the Anglican Church.

The rift, the judgement and the Treaty

The 176-year rift between the Church and iwi had its roots in 1848, when Ngati Toa gifted land in Porirua to the Anglican Church.

In return, the Church promised to build a school for the iwi's rangatahi (young people).

No school was built. Later, the Church received a Crown grant to the land without Ngati Toa's consent.

Offended Ngati Toa chief and Executive Council member Wi Parata took the church to the Supreme Court in 1877.

The judges dismissed the case.

The Chief Justice of the day, Sir James Prendergast, in his ruling called the Treaty of Waitangi a "simple nullity" and "worthless".

It couldn't be of value because it was signed "between a civilised nation and a group of savages" he claimed.

"The dismissal of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in this landmark case was a grievous error that disregarded the sovereignty guaranteed to Maori under Te Tiriti" said Dr Taku Parai, Ngati Toa's Pou Tikanga.

The King's Counsel oppose the Bill

The Anglican Church and Ngati Toa's joint statement joins a chorus of opposition against the Bill, including a many thousands-strong hikoi that will arrive at Parliament grounds today.

Those on the hikoi are bringing with them a letter signed by 42 of the country's prominent King's Counsel.

The letter calls the Bill an attempt to rewrite the Treaty.

It will effectively unilaterally change Te Tiriti and its effect in law without the agreement of Maori as the Treaty partner, the King's Counsel say.

Source

• The Post

From pre-schoolers to pensioners, about 75 people joined for portions of a 36km walk on Saturday 9 March.

The distance symbolically mirrors the walk from Gaza City to Rafah, the route Palestinians have been forced to walk as a result of Israel's military assaults and forced evacuations.

"It was a real liberation to be out in public with a Christian movement and friends calling for peace, justice and liberation in Palestine" Christchurch organiser Cole Yeoman told CathNews.

The march included a poignant visit to the Al Noor Mosque.

"Being hosted by the mosque was a real privilege and we were all incredibly moved to stand in the prayer room" said Yeoman.

Describing the Al Noor Mosque visit as "very impactful" Yeoman said a key part of the journey was recognising the same hate and violence in Gaza has been dealt to Muslim people in Christchurch.

After leaving the Mosque the group walked to the Cathedral carrying the banner.

The Palestinian Christian-led global walk for peace is taking place in four New Zealand cities during Lent - Christchurch, Auckland, Whanganui and Wellington.

These New Zealand cities are among 59 others in eight countries hosting the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage.

The walkers are calling for an enduring and sustained ceasefire, access to humanitarian assistance, release of all hostages on both sides and an end of occupation so a just peace can begin.

The walk aims to show solidarity with the people suffering in Gaza and raise funds for humanitarian relief and support for refugees.

Besides calling for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, the walkers are asking the New Zealand government to allow family members of Gazans living in New Zealand to have humanitarian visas.

Why walk?

Anglican Bishop of Wellington Justin Duckworth says he'll be walking in Whanganui and Wellington.

"I'm taking part in the walk to witness to the suffering of those involved in this conflict.

"As I walk, I will be praying for those killed on both sides.

"Jesus lived a life of non-violence and died a sacrificial death. As His follower, I'm supporting peaceful efforts that give aid and seek an end to the suffering of others."

"It was encouraging to see so many people connecting the dots between Christianity and Palestine" shared a Christchurch marcher, underlining the broad support for peace and justice.

Join the walk

Common Grace Aotearoa and Aotearoa Christians for Peace in Palestine are organising the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage in New Zealand.

Auckland

• Saturday 16th March
• Starting in Grafton and going around the central isthmus

Whanganui

• Saturday 16th March
• From Castlecliff to Upokongaro and back

Wellington

• Thursday 28th March
• From Taita to Island Bay

Source

• Scoop
• Supplied
• Joint Anglican and Catholic bishops statement on Israel Palestine conflict

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Bishop of Wellington, Justin Duckworth, will announce to the Wellington congregation on Sunday that Wilkinson will be the capital's new dean. Wilkinson, a senior pastor at Palmerston North's Central Baptist Church, will start his new role in January next year. Read more