Hundreds of people on Monday set out on a nine-day march to New Zealand's capital of Wellington in protest over legislation that would reinterpret a treaty at the heart of race relations in the Pacific country.

Tens of thousands of New Zealanders gathered outside the parliament in one of the country’s largest demonstrations to oppose the Treaty Principles Bill, which critics say undermines Maori rights and threatens race relations.

A nine-day march by Maori ended in a Wellington rally to protest a bill said to weaken Maori rights. Protesters wore traditional attire or shirts with 'Toitu te Tiriti' (honour the treaty), highlighting calls to respect the Treaty of Waitangi.