ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN ANCHOR: Native peoples in New Zealand are also demanding more protection from the government. A treaty signed in the village of Waitangi in 1840 gave Britain sovereignty over much of New Zealand. In return, Britain promised to protect Maori rights, a promise most Maoris say was never kept. TV New Zealand reports that one group of Maoris pressed its demands at the annual Waitangi Day celebration.</s>MIHINGARANGI FORTIES, TVNZ (voice-over): A controversial start to Waitangi 2000, a group of protesters managed to breach security, and by sunrise the Maori sovereignty flag was the only flag flying. Officials tried and failed to bring it down. That means that as the official party left this church service it was still the only flag on display.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Happy Waitangi Day, everybody.</s>FORTIES: Eventually a crane had to be brought up from Failonai (ph) to lower the flag.</s>PITA PARAONE, CELEBRATION ORGANIZER: It's not a surprise. You know, that -- we knew something would happen, but what and at what extent they would go to, we didn't know. But I think that we've handled it very well.</s>FORTIES: It was then given to</s>SIR MICHAEL HARDIE BOYS: Well that sounded very interesting and quite moving. I think it's been a very good spirit abroad.</s>FORTIES: And the day not complete without the navy's 21-gun salute.</s>WENGE: That report from TV New Zealand.
Maori Protest at New Zealand's Waitangi Day Celebration