Prime Minister expected to return to Waitangi

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The Prime Minister is expected to return to Waitangi next week, after opting to stay away last year, RNZ understands. Details on Christopher Luxon's timetable are yet to be revealed, but it is understood the Iwi Chairs Forum is expecting his attendance in the days leading up to the anniversary itself. Luxon's office is yet to confirm whether he will be there for the pōwhiri or the dawn service at Te Whare Rūnanga. While a lot of focus goes on the Waitangi Day commemorations on the 6th, politicians are formally welcomed on the 5th. Some opt to spend the whole week at Waitangi, to meet with iwi and soak up the atmosphere. Last year, Christopher Luxon opted to go to Canterbury instead, spending the 'political day' in Christchurch to announce a roading upgrade. He spent New Zealand's national day in Akaroa, with Ngāi Tahu at Ōnuku Marae. That will not be an option this year. Ngāi Tahu, which usually alternates holding Waitangi Day events between Ōnuku, Awarua, and Ōtākou, is taking the unusual step of heading to Waitangi. Ahead of Waitangi Day 2025, Luxon gave notice in December 2024 that he would not be going to Waitangi. He revealed his actual destination a few days in advance. At the time, Luxon said he held the view that he wanted to "go around the country" and visit the places where the Treaty was signed. A historical precedent Not every prime minister has been at Waitangi for Waitangi Day itself. Helen Clark and Sir John Key both stopped going after falling out of favour. After being heckled and jostled in 2004, Clark would go up for breakfast in subsequent years, but would not visit Te Tii Marae. When Key was denied speaking rights in 2016, he opted to go to the NRL Nines in Auckland instead. Sir Bill English, in his sole year as Prime Minister, spent the day with Ngāti Whātua at Ōrākei Marae. When announcing the election date last week, Luxon said there was a protocol around when he would announce his decision, based on security reasons, and he would announce his decision "shortly," while talking up the "positive reception" he received at Rātana. He did not end up going to Rātana last week, instead focusing on the response to last week's severe weather. His decision was supported by the opposition and in speeches from the hau kāinga. That may well have weighed on his mind when deciding whether to go to Waitangi. The heat has gone somewhat out of the Treaty debate following the end of the Treaty Principles Bill. But there is still a lot of hurt amongst Māori, with Waikato-Tainui leader Tuku Morgan saying the relationship with the Crown had become "pretty fractured." Plus, it is an election year. The recent RNZ-Reid Research poll showed 62 percent of people think it is either very or somewhat important that New Zealand's Prime Minister is in Waitangi for Waitangi Day. Politicians have their say Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour confirmed he would attend. Last year, Seymour twice had the microphone taken away from him (although, wearing his own wireless microphone, his speech still made it out to ACT's social media channels). He said he would continue to go up and express his view that "we are all equal and alike in dignity and have the same opportunity in this country, regardless of when our ancestors got here". Asked whether the prime minister was also going, Seymour said he did not do Luxon's diary. "He'll make his own decision. I've previously advocated that the celebrations should move around the country, so I understand if he wants to go to Christchurch or Ngāti Whātua, as he has in previous years. Equally, I'm from Northland and I quite like going up there myself." Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Sons of the North Winston Peters and Shane Jones will also be there, no doubt already preparing to give as good as they get. Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka, who often speaks at Waitangi, said Waitangi was "the birthplace of the nation" and confirmed he would be there throughout the week. He also said he was not responsible for Luxon's diary, but said "all MPs" should be there. "It represents the font of kotahitanga in our country, and I'm all about that, and I'm very supportive of that." Potaka said there had been volatility in the korero on the paepae, and in the relationship "for the last few decades," and said the government was working to address longstanding grievances. "We go with an open heart, with some views and some pretty strong convictions around what we need to do to get things like the economy back on track, and public services, but also with an absolute appetite to settle and implement Treaty claims, that's where we're at." Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver Labour leader Chris Hipkins said it was New Zealand's national day, and a significant occasion. "We're heading up towards a very significant milestone. Two hundred years of Te Tiriti o Waitangi is not that far away. Now's the time for us to be looking to...

Prime Minister expected to return to Waitangi

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Prime Minister expected to return to Waitangi

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