Kingi Taurua greeting John Key at Te Tii Marae at a previous Waitangi Day (Brett Phibbs)

Ngapuhi votes to block Key from Waitangi: Kingi Taurua

Author: Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2016, 3:21PM

UPDATED 8.05pm: Ngapuhi doesn't want a bar of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, and therefore the Prime Minister will not be invited to Te Tii Marae this Waitangi Day.

Iwi leaders voted against John Key coming to the marae, 38 to 14.

LISTEN ABOVE: Ngapuhi elder Kingi Taurua speaks to Larry Williams

Ngapuhi elder Kingi Taurua said the hui has been held and the decision is final.

"Ngapuhi will not support the Prime Minister coming on Te Tii Marae. It is not a Te Tii Marae issue, it is a Ngapuhi issue."

He says it wouldn't be appropriate for the Prime Minister to visit the marae the day after he signs the TPP.

Mr Key's due to attend Waitangi events and discuss the TPP, following the signing of the TPP trade agreement in Auckland on Thursday.

Newstalk ZB political editor Barry Soper told Kerre McIvor and Mark Dye when Mr Key was in opposition in 2007, he made some promises he now mightn't be able to keep.

"Following the Helen Clark no-shows, he said that he would be back to the Marae and would be there every year if he became Prime Minister. Well, he's not going to go there this year."

John Key has already indicated if he's not welcome, he won't go.

He said his office "has received a call from Titewhai Harawira inviting me to the official opening on the lower Marae. However I understand that the Marae trustees are meeting this evening to agree on their position."

But there seems to be a division.

The Trustees say a formal invitation will be extended to the Prime Minister.

Local MP for Te Tai Tokerau Kelvin Davis said protocol dictates that the Prime Minister will be invited onto the Marae despite the vote.

"Although it's confusing, the hui said no, the kaumatua who run this show, they're the ones who have said yes, we will still carry on."

"And even amongst the kaumatua there was a split in opinion."

Mr Key is crystal clear, he will speak if he attends - and if he can't speak, he's not going.

Mr Key says there's a well established custom that the Prime Minister, as the most senior representative of the Crown, will always speak.