KEY POINTS:
It was a Catch-22 for Treaty Negotiations Minister Michael Cullen as he looked down the line of Tuhoe waiting to greet him with hongi.
Among those lining up was Tame Iti - a man facing firearms charges who has previously shown contempt for the Crown and Dr Cullen as its representative - in protests.
Just five months ago, Dr Cullen was among those alternately criticising and mocking National leader John Key after he and Mr Iti greeted each other with a hongi on Waitangi Day.
"On the one hand we had the Prime Minister, Helen Clark, a leader of international stature; on the other hand we had Mr Key, whose proudest moment of 2008 so far is to hongi with Tame Iti," Dr Cullen said then.
Minister Trevor Mallard asked why Mr Key did not have the "courage to turn his back on Tame Iti?"
"We expect someone of principle, someone who aspires to be the Prime Minister to say, 'I will not cuddle up to someone who is charged with serious firearm offences'."
However, Mr Iti was one of the signatories for Tuhoe on a historic day - the signing of the terms of negotiation for a settlement between two parties whose past has been fractious.
To avoid the hongi risked not only being rude, but also putting Crown-Tuhoe relationships in further strife.
So Dr Cullen shared hongi with Mr Iti not just once, but three times - once upon greeting, again when Mr Iti presented him with a taiaha, and yet again when the speeches were over.
Asked if he was wary about Mr Iti's approach, Dr Cullen said no. "His behaviour was impeccable."
