Thousands of Maori protesters converged on the parliament in Wellington, New Zealand, this week amid anger from the indigenous people over an equal rights bill.

The proposed law would grant equal rights to all residents - stripping the native tribe of long-held privileges. But Maori chiefs have reacted angrily to the modernisation attempts.

Footage shows a portion of the 40,000 crowd of demonstrators - the only major rally since a crowd of 20,000 protesters against land rights laws in 2004.

Politician David Seymour, who proposed the law change, said: 'My Treaty Principles Bill says that I, like everybody else, whether their ancestors came here a thousand years ago, like some of mine did, or just got off the plane at Auckland International Airport this morning to begin their journey as New Zealanders, have the same basic rights and dignity.'