Police in Wellington decided on Thursday that a hikoi to mark 130 years since the raid on the Taranaki settlement of Parihaka, was too small to be allowed on the streets.
On 5 November 1881, more than 1500 armed police plundered the village, houses were burnt down, and livestock were killed.
They expelled about 2000 people and arrested and imprisoned the two Maori leaders, Te Whiti and Tohu.
On Thursday a hikoi of about 60 people set off from Te Papa Tongarewa just after 11am, to walk to Parliament.
But police decided the group was too small to be allowed to walk on the roads.
A hikoi spokesperson, Whakaarahia Koroheke, says it's disappointing that after more than a century of carrying the hurt of Parihaka, marchers were restricted in what they could do.
She said during the walk some people chanted or wailed, others performed the poi, and some did karanga.
