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Prime Minister John Key and Maori Party co-leaders Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples. - Source: Getty -
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The TVNZ team is making its way to Waitangi to cover the celebrations this weekend. A few weeks ago this was set to be a pretty low-key Waitangi Day but now there are several issues bubbling below the surface.
National and the Maori Party have never been a perfect partnership but they worked together last term and they've just signed up for round two.
Everyone was getting used to the alliance but now the Maori Party is threatening to walk away over the issue of Treaty protection for partial asset sales.
The Prime Minister will raise the issue when he arrives on Sunday and it is set to dominate discussion.
There are rumours of a hikoi and protest action over the asset sale Treaty clause.
Now, a threat of protest action at Waitangi isn't new but the timing of this issue seems to have magnified the situation.
I first reported on the story on Tuesday and have been covering it ever since.
Protest has become a bit of a tradition here at Waitangi but we'll have to wait and see if this latest concern turns to protest action.
The timing couldn't be more poignant. We're at a celebration for our founding document and it is the application of the Treaty of Waitangi in the State Owned Enterprises Act that is the centre of this issue.
So it is a combination of history with a very modern and relevant concern.
The Maori Party is concerned the Government isn't protecting Treaty rights and wants to ensure there is a safeguard when shares in the energy companies and Air New Zealand go on sale.
The Maori Party has launched its response to the consultation document put out by the Government on Thursday.
They're calling it a "primer" to raise awareness amongst Maori about the consultation process and which option the Maori Party is pushing for.
To partially sell off state assets the Government needs to take the assets protection clause (Section 9) out of the State Owned Enterprises Act which has Treaty provisions and they need to create a new law.
There are three options: keep Section 9 of the State Owned Enterprises Act (Maori Party preference), include a more specific Treaty clause (John Key's preference) or have no Treaty clause at all (recommendation in draft Treasury document).
Earlier in the week the Prime Minister said there would be a lot of misinformation buzzing around about this issue but National is promising to fulfil its obligations under the Treaty.
We'll be here over the weekend and keep you updated on developments. Stay tuned!
Jessica Mutch and the ONE News team report from Waitangi throughout the weekend.
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