All Blacks legend Sonny Bill Williams has broken his silence over recent protests against a hugely controversial bill that seeks to radically reinterpret New Zealand’s founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi.
The agreement was signed on February 6, 1840 by the British Crown and around 540 Maori chiefs. The document is seen as crucial to upholding Māori rights.
The new law, called the Treaty Principles bill, was introduced to New Zealand’s parliament by a junior member of the libertarian ACT party, the minority group in the country’s coalition government.
ACT claims the Treaty of Waitangi has seen the country give its indigenous people greater legal and political rights, adding that its bill is designed to end what they call “racial division”.
Despite that, the proposed legislation has caused mass outrage in New Zealand among some indigenous communities, with more than 40,000 people taking to the streets of Wellington in protest at the new bill.
The activists joined what is known as hikoi – a peaceful protest – that has spread across the country.
Former All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams has broken his silence on the recent protests in New Zealand.
A proposed law has caused outrage among some Maori communities in the country.
Hauraki Waikato MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke led a Haka while New Zealand’s parliament was in session last week.
New Zealand rugby sensation Williams has spoken out about the situation on his Instagram story.
The football star has been a big supporter of the Polynesian, Maori and Muslim communities in the past, and previously said The New Zealand Herald who aspires to become a “voice for the voiceless.”
On Tuesday, the former boxing star, 39, reshared a post by @Khaledbeydoun on her Instagram Story, of two men performing what is known as a hongi, a traditional Maori greeting in which two people touch their noses together. .
The post said: “Defend the rights of Maori in New Zealand as Maori defended Muslims.”
Williams added her own comments on the post, writing, “Their fight, our fight,” adding three heart emojis.
The former rugby league star converted to Islam after leaving the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs in 2008. He moved to France to play for Toulon and it was during this period where he found his new faith.
In the post, Instagram user @Khaledbeydoun references how Māori communities ‘stood alongside Muslims’ following the Christchurch shootings in 2019, where 51 people were killed at two mosques in the city.
Williams had previously paid an emotional tribute to the victims of the Christchurch attack.
The parliament stopped after members of the gallery and attendees performed the Haka.
Williams reshared a post from @Khaeledbeydoun on her Instagram Story, writing: “Stand up for Māori rights in New Zealand like Māori stood up for Muslims.”
Williams has been a strong supporter of the Maori, Polynesian and Islamic communities.
The rugby and boxing star made 58 appearances for New Zealand between 2010 and 2019.
Williams, a devout Muslim, had previously paid an emotional tribute to the victims of the Christchurch attack and met with Islamic leaders.
The protests also came after wild scenes broke out in New Zealand’s parliament on Thursday.
Hauraki Waikato MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, of the Te Pati Maori Party, appeared to tear up a piece of paper before performing the Haka.
Other MPs joined in, while gallery spectators also took part, as Labor and Green MPs protested.
Te Pati Maori co-chairs Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi also performed the Haka directly in front of the ACT Party benches and were seen looking at leader David Seymour, one of the bill’s proponents.