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Protesters wait for John Key to arrive at Waitangi - Source: ONE News -
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Waitangi is a unique mix of passion, principles, politics and protest.
This is the second year I've come to Waitangi to celebrate our national day. It offers a unique experience and I think every New Zealander should try and visit here at some point in their life.
Even though it wasn't easy when the alarm went off at 4am the moment when the sun rises over the grounds of the Treaty House is always something special.
Protest has also become a feature of Waitangi Day. People use the Waitangi Day celebration to protest about a whole range of issues from deep sea drilling to the Treaty clause debate and the Maori Party's relationship with National.
Some are calling for politics and protest to be left out of Waitangi but it has become integral and I'm not sure that's ever going to happen.
Yesterday we were in the thick of it as protesters surged and forced the Prime Minister to leave early without getting a chance to talk and debate the Treaty clause issue. In the scuffle a photographer was hit just above his eye and had blood pouring over his face.
Prime Minister John Key has maintained he'll keep coming back. Remember - he was very critical of Helen Clark when she decided it was undignified to go back to Te Tii Marae. I wonder if he's now regretting taking that stand. I'm sure his security would prefer it if he didn't go back.
Waitangi Day itself is traditionally quieter than February 5 on the marae, but we still saw two hikoi.
The first had about sixty people and was quite subdued but this afternoon there was a second hikoi with about two hundred people and things got heated.
This group was intent on climbing the flag pole and flying their flag. At first the strong men were asked to come to the front and, with puffed chests and banners flying, they started negotiating with the Maori wardens and security. It felt like things were going to erupt at any moment. After about an hour the wardens allowed the protesters to touch the flag pole as a compromise but some used it as an opportunity to spit on and hit the flag pole instead.
Protest is a major part of Waitangi Day, but I don't think people should stay away from Waitangi because of it.
This is developing into a unique New Zealand/Aotearoa form of celebrating our national day. The protests are part of our searching out who we are as a nation and as peoples within that nation.
Read more Jessica Mutch opinion
