Thousands of Maori and supportive citizens marched in New Zealand yesterday in protest against a plan by the new National Party-led government to roll back the use of Maori language, review affirmative action policies, and assess how the country’s founding treaty document is interpreted in legislation. The Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840 between the British and the Maori people, is a cornerstone of Kiwi life, so the review is no small undertaking. New Zealand has an active Maori party, and its co-leader Debbie Ngarewa Packer said, “We will not accept being second-rate citizens and being relegated backwards by this government.” The protests coincided with the opening day of the new Kiwi parliament, led by newly sworn-in PM Christopher Luxon.