Claire Trevett: Little offers brave views on a republic

Little indicated that when he deems the mood is right, he will move towards a republic. Photo / NZME.

If Opposition parties needed to know their place, they find out at Waitangi each year.

The powhiri for the Prime Minister and Government ministers are packed with people. Crowds for the Opposition delegation including Labour leader Andrew Little an hour later were sparse. The marae didn't even bother turning the speakers on so his speech could be heard. On the sidelines, the Iwi Chairs Forum met only the Government. After the Dawn Service, everybody flocked to the Prime Minister's annual Waitangi breakfast, leaving Little to slink off unnoticed.

They are treated politely but also indifferently. Ngapuhi leader Sonny Tau pointed out why at the Dawn Service. He noted some Opposition speakers mentioned politics in their addresses. "It is simple and easy when you're in Opposition to say things." He added they needn't think they could get away with it: "When you are in power, I will remind you of those comments."

There is a certain ruthless pragmatism at play - and anyone knows it is the Government that has the money and the pens that make the laws. Yesterday Little rallied and got back in the game.

Key was talking about the flag and downplaying the Waitangi report on sovereignty, but Little had bigger fish to fry. One was a clear indication that when he deems the mood is right, he will move towards a republic. The other was his call to try to make Maori sovereignty a reality in practical terms. Both are significant and brave calls from a leader who until now has appeared to be worried about saying anything that might scare a voter. Both also carry political risks which explains the caveats Little scattered about while setting out his views.

Neither are likely to happen until the Treaty settlement process is over and all iwi are looking ahead. In that regard, Key also appears to have started the process of diluting National's promise to wind up the Treaty settlements by 2017. That goal has already had to be shifted out by three years. Now the Government is faced with recalcitrant Ngapuhi hapu for which there seems no resolution in sight, despite the optimistic rhetoric on both sides. There were even lengthy negotiations over whether Kotahitanga leader Pita Tipene and Tuhoronuku chairman Sonny Tau could both be seated at the PM's table for the breakfast.

So Key has now started talking about settling with all "willing and able" iwi by 2017. He denied National was starting to give up hope of ever getting Ngapuhi through. But his terminology now is a marked change from the original goal of settling all historical grievances.