Ngā tapuwae

Around 50 marchers left Te Hāpua in Te Tai Tokerau Northland on 14 September 1975 to protest issues around loss of Māori land and cultural sovereignty. Participants walked or travelled the length of Te Ika-a-Māui North Island, staying at rural and urban marae along the way. At each stop, participants debated ideas, gathered support and collected signatures for the Memorial of Right and petition prepared by Te Rōpū Matakite o Aotearoa — the organisation behind the hīkoi.

The colour photographs in this section were taken by hīkoi participant Christian Heinegg, an American-born photographer who grew up in Aotearoa from the age of nine. Heinegg documented the entire length of the 1975 Māori land march, capturing moments of solidarity, resilience, and deep cultural significance, as well as the day-to-day experience of manaakitanga and sore feet. By the time the hīkoi arrived in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, the crowd had swelled to thousands. Led by Whina Cooper, the delegation presented their petition to Prime Minister Bill Rowling on parliament grounds on 13 October 1975.