Key commitsThe PM has vowed he'll keep coming back to Waitangi despite anticipated tension.
A
Maori protestor is restrained by police and security after he and
others advanced on New Zealand Prime Minister John Key's official party
last year (Getty)
It's been a peaceful
start to Waitangi Day celebrations, with the sole source of drama being a
stoush over who would lead Prime Minister John Key onto Te Tii Marae.
Political leaders including Mr Key, Labour leader David Shearer, Greens co-leader Metiria Turei and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters arrived at Waitangi on Tuesday.
The crowds gathered at Te Tii Marae have been well-behaved and there has been little trouble, unlike previous years' events which have featured mudslinging, tears and arrests.
However, Mr Key's arrival on Tuesday morning was delayed by more than half an hour as an argument continued at the marae's gate about who would lead him onto the marae.
Organisers didn't want Titewhai Harawira to do it and had appointed another kuia.
Mrs Harawira has appointed herself in the past and earlier said she would do it again this time.
Several government ministers were left waiting on the side of the road, but a compromise was eventually reached and Mr Key was escorted onto the marae by a number of kuia, including Mrs Harawira.
Despite the trouble and delay, Mr Key has vowed he'll keep coming back to Waitangi because it's an important part of engagement between the Crown and Maori.
"When we got to the lower marae we did actually get an opportunity to get on, to speak and it was all fairly calm there, so that's a step up from last year."
At the 2012 Waitangi celebrations, Mr Key was shouted down by protesters and he had to cut his speech short.
"It's the easy thing for me to say I won't come and walk away, but actually it's an important part of the engagement and dialogue between the Crown and Maori."
Labour Party leader David Shearer, along with a big contingent of his MPs and party faithful, were welcomed on to Te Tii Marae on Tuesday afternoon.
A dawn service on Wednesday will continue the celebrations to mark the 173rd anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Political leaders including Mr Key, Labour leader David Shearer, Greens co-leader Metiria Turei and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters arrived at Waitangi on Tuesday.
The crowds gathered at Te Tii Marae have been well-behaved and there has been little trouble, unlike previous years' events which have featured mudslinging, tears and arrests.
However, Mr Key's arrival on Tuesday morning was delayed by more than half an hour as an argument continued at the marae's gate about who would lead him onto the marae.
Organisers didn't want Titewhai Harawira to do it and had appointed another kuia.
Mrs Harawira has appointed herself in the past and earlier said she would do it again this time.
Several government ministers were left waiting on the side of the road, but a compromise was eventually reached and Mr Key was escorted onto the marae by a number of kuia, including Mrs Harawira.
Despite the trouble and delay, Mr Key has vowed he'll keep coming back to Waitangi because it's an important part of engagement between the Crown and Maori.
"When we got to the lower marae we did actually get an opportunity to get on, to speak and it was all fairly calm there, so that's a step up from last year."
At the 2012 Waitangi celebrations, Mr Key was shouted down by protesters and he had to cut his speech short.
"It's the easy thing for me to say I won't come and walk away, but actually it's an important part of the engagement and dialogue between the Crown and Maori."
Labour Party leader David Shearer, along with a big contingent of his MPs and party faithful, were welcomed on to Te Tii Marae on Tuesday afternoon.
A dawn service on Wednesday will continue the celebrations to mark the 173rd anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
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