The Prime Minister will mark Waitangi Day by attending the NRL Auckland Nines tournament at Eden Park and other events in Auckland.

John Key had no official engagements today, as other politicians braved wet weather to attend Te Tii Marae at Waitangi.

A spokeswoman for Mr Key says he will spend tomorrow in Auckland attending a couple of events including the NRL Auckland Nines.

Yesterday he announced he would not go to Waitangi this weekend -- the first time he has not done so since his first Waitangi Day as National Party leader in 2007, when he committed to return every year if he became Prime Minister.

The decision followed controversy about whether to invite him at all followed by an attempt by the marae to say he could not speak on political issues.