Maoris protest on treaty day observation in New Zealand

Maori protests against a government plan to
declare traditional territory
as public property marked Thursday’s annual
observation of the Treaty of
Waitangi.

Protesters scuffled with officials at two
different events. National Party
leader Don Brash was hit in the face with mud and
was called a racist by
Maori leaders. He denied involvement with the
white supremacist movement
in the U.S.

The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840. Some
tribes have reached land
and cash settlements over their treaty rights.