New Zealanders are standing in solidarity with protestors on Mauna Kea in Hawaii.
Last night hundreds gathered in Auckland's Aotea Square to show their support for the protesters - or protectors as they prefer to be called - who have been blocking construction of a billion dollar telescope on top of the mountain for the last week.
Mauna Kea rally in Aotea square Photo: Supplied Todd Henry
Thousands more have joined in online using the hashtag #maunakea on social media platforms which has been trending worldwide.
Joining the protectors on the mountain is Tauranga teacher, Mahara Nicholas, who has been waving the Tino Rangatiratanga flag from the beginning of the protests.
Mr Nicholas (Ngāi te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui) told RNZ he's been impressed by the use of peaceful resistance, which came to the fore when more than 20 elderly native Hawaiians were arrested last week.
Mauna Kea, the highest peak in Hawaii, is seen by scientists as a prime location for looking into space, but is considered sacred ground by many native Hawaiians.
The cause has received an outpouring of support from Tangata Māori who have been gathering to sing waiata and pray in karakia in support.
For one Waikato hapu, the issue hits close to home, as they try and stop the quarrying of their own maunga.
Mauna Kea rally in Aotea square Photo: Supplied/ Todd Henry
New Zealander Louisa Tipene Opetaia lived in Hawaii for seven years and was among those at the rally in Auckland last night, "I invited so many people and it was such short notice. I was expecting to hear excuses but everyone came and they brought signs, flags, instruments and their voices," she said.
"The energy and vibrations were amazing. It’s beautiful to join with protectors across the Pacific and the world in solidarity and support for respecting our sacred spaces."
Rally organiser, Keonilei Lealiifano, is orginally from Hawaii and told First Up she was overwhelmed by the number of people who showed up to support at such short notice.
"It was just a beautiful sharing of people through aloha, through songs, chants, speeches of encouragement telling their connection to Hawaii," she explained.
"I'm here and I'm Kanaka Māoli and we stand together here as Ohana (family) and around the world we all are ohana, we are all linked by aloha, by love - that's what we believe and we can stand in solidarity with other people."
Mauna Kea protest in Aotea Square Photo: RNZ/ Todd Henry
According to native Hawaiian beliefs, every mountain is sacred because it is where the land meets the heavens, Ms Lealiifano explained.
"But this particular mountain is extra special for us because it's our only mountain that has snow and therefore we know that it's special.
"We believe that our ancestors live on this mountain and that this is where we can commune with them and be with them. So it's always been special," she said.
Ms Lealiifano said the passion behind the protests are shared by many indigenous people around the world.
"To be honest, I've grown up with this my whole life - the feeling of not being heard. Indigenous people have a hard time being heard or even recognised and the media in Hawaii just to chose to ignore us for a long time but that's harder to do now with social media," she said.
"Being so far away from my homeland, it's hurtful. A lot of the protestors on Mauna Kea are actually my blood family, my hula family up there on the mountain, either being arrested or standing up there with their families to show their support.
"But it's not easy," said Ms Lealiifano who is hopeful for change.
"I'm just so proud of my people back home and people here in Aotearoa that are showing their support behind their cause."
Louisa Tipene Opetaia took this video.
