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People gather at Waitangi - Source: ONE News
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Tension is growing among Maori leaders over the new state asset sales law, as politicians prepare to arrive at Waitangi.
The issue of asset sales is likely to dominate the celebrations in Northland, with the Maori Party worried the Government wants to abandon protection of treaty rights when it sells shares in state owned enterprises.
The Maori Party said it would be political suicide if the Prime Minister did not include a treaty protection clause.
Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples told ONE News that the party is still prepared to cut coalition ties if it does not get its way when it comes to partially selling off state owned assets.
"If we betray the treaty, we can't walk around in public anymore, you know the Maori public," he said today.
The party has released a special primer urging people to reject any move to leave out Treaty of Waitangi clauses from legislation to enable the process.
The party wants people to either support Section Nine of the State Owned Enterprises Act being in the new legislation, or ask for a specific Treaty clause applying to Crown obligations be included.
The co-leader said he has been getting a unanimous message from supporter that he needs to negotiate for some kind of a treaty clause to be included in the new law that allows the partial sale of state assets.
Sharples said John Key would be foolish not to listen.
"I believe it would be suicide for him not to do it, I really do. I just think Maori people would rebel big time".
And it is the Maori people and iwi leaders the Maori Party said will have the final say on whether they should stay in a relationship with National.
Some iwi leaders have slammed the Prime Minister's claim that treaty clause Nine of the State Owned Enterprises Act is too vague.
"It's very, very clear there is nothing ambiguous about Section Nine what-so-ever, and attempt to fudge it in that way is just rather despicable," said Margaret Mutu from Ngati Kahu.
Ngai Tahu's Mark Solomon agrees.
"Its not wishy-washy, if you actually look at what the courts determined are the principals, it is a very strong statement," he told ONE News.
The Prime Minister is expected to raise the issue tomorrow.
Governor General questioned
Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae has since been questioned today over where he stands with Maori.
Mateparae and his wife Janine Lady Mateparae were welcomed onto Te Tii Marae in Northland with a powhiri at the Lower Waitangi Marae earlier today.
Kaumatua Kingi Taurua said His Excellency was asked what role he will play for Maori, and whether his responsibility will be to Maori or to the "settler government".
Taurua said under the Treaty the Governor General's first priority should be for Maori.
Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has sent best wishes to New Zealanders for Waitangi Day on behalf of President Barack Obama and the American people.
Clinton said the day to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi is time to reflect on New Zealand's rich history and promising future.
Mana arrives at Waitangi
The Mana Party is already stamping its mark on Waitangi as people gathered today.
Dignitaries began arriving this afternoon, including Hone Harawira and his Mana Party supporters.
Tents are covering the Waitangi campsite, and a contingent of 300 Mana supporters are standing on the roadside, flying the Maori flag and showing protest signs reading "stop the mining" and "Aotearoa is not for sale", as they watch visitors stream into the town.
Elsewhere on the grounds waka crews are practicing for Monday, with one crew of some 50 paddlers getting into its work.
The Navy is also present, with HMNZS Canterbury moored off the Treaty grounds.
Harawira had been welcomed on to the lower marae. Ministers Hekia Parata and Nick Smith also arrived in town today.
Maori flag for Wellington
The Maori flag, Tino Rangatiratanga, will be flown from Wellington's Town Hall on Waitangi Day for the first time.
The flag was recognised by New Zealand's cabinet as the preferred national Maori flag in 2009 after months of consultation.
Mayor Celia Wade-Brown says the Maori flag will be flown together with the New Zealand national flag in the city on the country's national day of celebration.
"Waitangi Day is all about the spirit of mutual respect and nationhood so we will fly the two flags together. This symbolises and enhances the relationship between the Crown and Maori," she said.
Mana Party leader Hone Harawira thanked Wade-Brown for the gesture.
However, Harawira said most Maori were against making the flag into an official state flag because then the government could determine when it could fly, Fairfax reported.
Other councils have flown the Maori flag on Waitangi Day and other days of significance and it has been flown on Auckland Harbour Bridge and at Premier House.
-with AAP and Newstalk ZB
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentbenji2 said on 2012-02-06 @ 04:32 NZDT: Report abusive post
I'm not surpised about the protests, given that the government wants to sell everything off to foriegn investors untill there is nothing left to sell in NZ, like the Dairy Farms, and James Camerons huge purchase, where he'll probably build an ugly glass mansion on the block of land.
benjaminsamuel said on 2012-02-05 @ 23:43 NZDT: Report abusive post
I shall be getting up in time to see the beginning of the celebrations and then getting on with my day doing things that I would normally not be able to do due to work commitments. Lets be one people one nations.
kiwigreg said on 2012-02-05 @ 22:06 NZDT: Report abusive post
I'll go with Lady L. Forget this Waitangi Day rubbish and call it New Zealand Day. Then what will the vociferous minority do with their time? I think the New Zealand Prime Ministers have been remarkable patient with these idiots. They yell and scream but take full advantage of what NZ has to offer.
oldstudent said on 2012-02-05 @ 17:25 NZDT: Report abusive post
Or was it two minutes? Who knows. It seems that little progress has been made this afternoon but I did listen to three informative talks on RNZ National about consititutional matters, held at Te Papa. Now a written constitution would be a good thing I reckon. Get some agreed points down in writing with proper community consultation.
oldstudent said on 2012-02-05 @ 12:16 NZDT: Report abusive post
Well my previous comment hasn't appeared so I will make another to suggest perhaps that some in NZ are concerned about what is going on - the psychologists call it "avoidance" and the climate change advocates call it "denial" - I see from the TVNZ Twitter team that the PM stayed one hour on the marae because he wasn't being listened to. Well NZ has done all the listening it needs on sale of energy assets and the PM does not want to respond it seems. Will he do another walk out tomorrow?