New Zealand's parliament on Thursday began a heated debate on a contentious bill aimed at reinterpreting the country's founding agreement as hundreds of protesters continued their march toward the country's capital.

A hīkoi (protest march) spanning the entirety of New Zealand's north island rallying against the government's constitutionally consequential 'Treaty Principles Bill' began Monday from Cape Reinga,

Hīkoi mō te Tiriti protester numbers are expected to swell as the demonstration reaches Rotorua today ahead of a protest in the city on Friday. The hīkoi against the Act Party’s Treaty Principles Bill and other government policies impacting Māori set off from Northland on Sunday bound for Wellington.