Hikoi to parliament: Police officers said that hīkoi supporting the protest “should be talked to”

One person commented online: “Don’t play politics at work, no matter how proud and charming it makes you feel.”

“You think you’re keeping the peace? Until it escalates in an instant. You are not helping, you are blurring the lines and reducing the public’s trust in you.”

Police Minister Mark Mitchell told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast was aware of these reports and discussed the matter with the Commissioner of Police.

“When it comes to maintaining public trust, it is very important that our police services are seen as politically neutral,” he said.

“I don’t know what these young policemen were thinking, they were not politically involved. However, it is important that our police are seen as politically neutral – this is extremely important to maintaining public trust,” he said.

“The police and the police commissioner are aware of this and have internal procedures to deal with it.”

A police spokesman said Herald they were familiar with images of officers with flags and signs relating to hīkoi.

“Police received no formal complaints but were made aware of the images, which was passed on to managers for consideration.

“These personnel were identified and reminded of the guidelines and expectations for sworn officers regarding political neutrality, and their supervisors were scheduled to speak with them.”

A spokesman for the Police Association said Herald it was a police matter and the association was not involved.

One of the speakers at Tuesday’s hīkoi, Ngāti Toa chief executive Helmut Modlik, told the crowd that the day marked the beginning of something new.

“From today, our hapū, our iwi, we will not stop until Te Tiriti o Waitangi is respected in this land.

“It’s time for change. The whole world is watching us to see what will happen to Aotearoa,” Modlik said.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon did not face the hīkoi, but some national MPs did, including Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka.

Asked later whether New Zealand had been “united”, Luxon said there was no doubt the country was going through a “difficult time”.

“We need to come together and we really need to ensure we have a great future as a country, whether you are Māori or not. I think we have innate potential in this great country of ours and it is our job to realize it.

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