Asian migrants show their support

8th February 2010

A surprise new group formed by Asian migrants joined the Waitangi Day commemorations for the first time this year.

The group, Asians Supporting Tino Rangatiratanga, travelled from Auckland and Wellington to show their solidarity with the Maori sovereignty movement.

Members distributed fliers and displayed a banner during Saturday afternoon's traditional hikoi.

Shasha Ali, from Singapore and of Indonesian descent, explained it was easy for migrants to stand back and not become involved in their new country's issues. "But it's not good to be complacent."

 Tania Lim, from Malaysia, and of Thai and Chinese descent, said the group's members came from countries which had all experienced colonialism.