Ruth Berry: Political musical chairs at Te Tii ceremonies

Destiny Church pastor Brian Tamaki (left), National leader Don Brash and Maori activist Tame Iti are part of the annual theatre that is behind the seating arrangements at Te Tii Marae. Picture / Dean Purcell

Last year Helen Clark entered Te Tii Marae with Titewhai Harawira clutching her hand, while Don Brash refused to go in.

This year the Prime Minister put her foot down and stayed away, while Dr Brash ventured on to find himself seated next to the combat fatigues-clad Tame Iti.

In the annual Te Tii theatre that has come to dominate recent perceptions of Waitangi Day politics, such pairings are deliberate.

As representatives of the political establishment, the politicians are placed alongside the people whose faces symbolise its flaxroots nemesis.

That National spent last week questioning why Iti hadn't been charged for shooting a flag made this year's tableau more deliciously ironic. He's a consummate performer, but even Iti must have been struggling to hold back a giggle.

If some rituals remained unchanged this year, others did not.

It will take more time before it can be said that the mana of Te Tii Marae, the gateway to the national marae on the treaty grounds, has been fully restored. But there were audible sighs of relief among many of the locals at Te Tii and from MPs of all political hues at the way events unfolded this year. That included Labourites holed away at the Copthorne Hotel and Maori Party leaders - aware some of the disaffected were beyond even their control.

Tariana Turia was courted by Labour because she represented a distinct Maori constituency. She left when it became increasingly clear she could not deliver to it under Labour. No longer so conflicted, she is a much more effective and influential politician. Together with other party figures, she was able to harness anger into a positive assertion of pride and self-control, setting the agenda for the media coverage.

When the visiting Destiny Church army's confrontational haka raised blood temperatures and a stoush loomed, it was the calls of "come back whanau" from many members of the crowd which averted trouble.

The Harawira clan is suffering an identity crisis, but mostly played ball because it wants Hone, the party's new Te Tai Tokerau candidate, in Parliament. Turia's message, after all, is to gain political power there - and to do what is required to get it - in order to realise aspirations.

Just how much influence the Maori Party will have this election is still unclear. It is struggling to get quality candidates in some areas.

It has a good chance in its northern stronghold, but the weekend's confirmation at Te Tii that popular Mere Mangu - sidelined in her bid to become the party's candidate - will now stand against him as an Independent could split votes.

The presence of several hundred Destiny men marching silently and mob-like around the celebrations behind their treaty-talking leaders highlighted the seriousness of the church's political wing in courting the Maori vote.

Labour may have steered clear of Te Tii this year, correctly judging it a Maori Party stronghold. After last year's unpleasant welcome, Helen Clark was entitled to stay away and it was strategically smart as a large Government presence may have proved a lightning rod for trouble.

But Labour, which marched on Ratana two weeks ago in full force, is calculating that Mrs Turia's support is limited and is focusing its attentions elsewhere.

New Zealand First's Winston Peters - whose party supported the foreshore legislation - was also particularly low-key.

Dr Brash may have been backed into a corner by threatening a boycott on Te Tii because of a non-existent "race-based" media ban - the result of either bad advice or bad strategy. But he took a gamble, came out unscathed and earned some kudos from those present.