Maori activists won't apologize for spitting and swearing at a tribunal hearing a treaty rights claim.

The activists protested the Waitangi Tribunal during a welcome ceremony in the Urewera Ranges area on Sunday. They said they were treating the judges like their ancestors were treated a century ago.

The tribunal is hearing a land claim by the Tuhoe Tribe. The tribe wants a 212,000-hectare park returned, along with other land under the Treaty of Waitangi.

Get the Story:
Iti defends iwi behaviour (TVNZ 1/18)
Tuhoe protesters won't apologise for spitting (The New Zealand Herald 1/18)
Tuhoe turn to academics (Stuff 1/18)

Relevant Links:
Treaty of Waitangi - http://www.archives.govt.nz/holdings/treaty_frame.html
Waitangi Tribunal - http://www.waitangi-tribunal.govt.nz
Treaty of Waitangi Links - http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Links/treaty.htm

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Report: Tribes wrongly denied oil royalties (5/21)
Legislation introduced to settle treaty claim (05/14)
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N.Z. plans to sign $42M treaty this week (3/25)