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A protester confronts John Key at Waitangi - Source: ONE News -
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On the eve of Waitangi Day, police are saying their security is up to the task at Te Tii Marae despite a start which left the Prime Minister shaken but undeterred.
In an embarrassing breach of security, John Key was pushed and grabbed by two men when he arrived at Waitangi.
Thousands have gone to the tiny settlement ahead of Friday's celebrations and Key says the incident will not stop him returning to the marae.
The sudden attack came just after he got out of his car, outside the marae. The first protester rushed towards Key, grabbing onto his arm and pulling his shirt.
Diplomatic Protection officers and police grabbed the man and dragged him away.
Seconds later, another man launched himself at Key, momentarily pinning him against the car, before he was also dragged away by police.
The Prime Minster, who already has a broken arm, appeared shaken at first, but remained calm.
Key told ONE News political editor Guyon Espiner that he didn't think he had been directly hit, and that he didn't want the incident blown out of proportion.
"They sort of grabbed my shoulder and my arm. It happened very quickly. They pulled one guy off and then the second guy tried to push me back," he says.
He says if the men think they will put him off coming back to Waitangi they can think again, saying he's many things but he's no quitter.
Key says he won't let a couple of glory seekers give a different perception to the day.
"I said on the marae and I say again I intend to come back next year and the year after and I think these are just a bunch of opportunists trying to give a different perception to what is Waitangi Day these days."
He has this message for his assailants.
"Well, get with the programme. New Zealand is moving on and it's changing and the way forward is through dialogue and an exchange of views and an understanding of each other's positions, not thumping the Prime Minister when he gets out of the Crown car."
The Prime Minister's Ngapuhi hosts are keen to distance themselves from the drama.
"Those individuals who did that this morning that was an
individual action," says Titewhai Harawira of Ngapuhi.
Labour is also condemning the incident, leader Phil Goff saying he
has sent the Prime Minister a message that he hopes he wasn't
harmed.
Despite the breach, police claim the Prime Minister's security is adequate.
"With any incident we always debrief the incident to establish what has occurred and as a result of that I'm more than happy with the security arrangements that we have for the Prime Minister," says Inspector Chris Scahill of Operation Waitangi.
Key has been making his mark at his first visit to Waitangi as Prime Minister, just not in the way anyone expected.
Two men have appeared in the Kaikohe District Court charged with assaulting the Prime Minister.
