AN impromptu decision to support the Hikoi mō te Tiriti saw hundreds of Ōpōtiki residents come out to show their colours on Tuesday morning.

Spokeswoman Tracy Gilmer said the Ōpōtiki hikoi was how those “left behind” could support those who had travelled to Poneke – Wellington –  to protest the Treaty Principles Bill, which passed its first reading in Parliament last week and opened for submissions on Tuesday

She said it was a way they could support this kaupapa from home, and respond to the coalition government’s “constant abuse on the tangata whenua and the Tiriti o Waitangi”.

“It’s our way of saying, ‘no – we don’t agree with what you are doing’.”

Ms Gilmer said the event was devised only the night before by a couple of friends sitting at home thinking “oh, my gosh, our people are all down in Poneke doing this amazing kaupapa, what are we going to do about it?”

“We made the call at 8pm the night before.”

She was pleased with the turnout which “felt like hundreds” of people taking part.