Bill English will this year be as far away from Waitangi as you can get.

The National leader is spending Waitangi Day celebrating with Ngai Tahu in Bluff on the day when most politicians gather at the Treaty signing grounds.

Mr English said he is pleased attention's moved away from the troublesome Te Tii Marae.

"I hope that this year they're able to make it all work because it is a beautiful place there. It's an important day. You would want Waitangi day to work so well that a lot of New Zealanders want to go there to be part of it. In the last number of years that hasn't been the case."

As Prime Minister Mr English refused to go to Waitangi.

He said he will be in Bluff for good reason.

"I'm attending there because I took the view last year as Prime Minister that New Zealanders want Waitangi day to be a day they feel proud of rather than one that's dogged by unnecessary controversies."