Wakas are viewed by hundreds during morning celebrations at in Te Ti Bay, Waitangi. Photo / Greg Bowker
A hikoi of about 500 is making its way up the hill at Waitangi to the treaty ground. It's an annual event. The only thing that changes is the mood and the number of arrests, if any.
Titewhai Harawira is leading the march from a car.
Most of the politicians left Waitangi before noon, on this, Waitangi Day. But not before Helen Clark took to the water with the famous Nga Puhi mariner Hec Busby on the double-hulled waka Te Aurere.
It was a short cruise from the Waitangi wharf to get a closer view of the dozen people-powered waka launched off the beach at Waitangi.
I had the privilege of being one of the three media allowed to accompany them.
We also got a view of a wee P-class yacht with a wee tino rangatiratanga flying at the top of the mast.
Busby was Clark's guide for the outing. He is a legend in the North. The last time I saw him, he was making an oral submission to Waitangi Tribunal hearings on the foreshore and seabed at the Wellington stadium four years ago. His knowledge of tribal history was vast.
Busby sailed the vessel on its first big Pacific voyage in 1995 emulating the great voyages of his forebears. From the Marquises Islands in French Polynesia to Hawaii he and his crew navigated only by the stars. The last big trip was to New Caledonia. The next big trip, funds permitting, is to Easter Island. The waka is based at Mangonui and is operated under the care of the Te Tai Tokerau Tarai Waka Trust.
It doesn't have a nautical wheel and is steered by a huge rudder which seems to require two people to operate. Today's trip was under motor, not sail.
The waka off Waitangi encircled Te Aurere. Clark acknowledged the paddlers, arms outstretched to applaud as each of the crew as they passed. Three police including a frogman followed in an inflatable. Security was heavy when she went "walkabout" after the boat trip, with at least a dozen officers discernible.
Clark was then escorted by Lynette Stewart, the chairperson of the Northland District Health Board, around the health-geared stalls in the sports ground. (Lynette is sister of Winston Peters, only prettier). Clark got her picture taken with a singing and dancing pineapple and a Shortland St star. (The dancing pineapple was with a major Maori health provider in Kaitaia).
The donut and hamburger stands were ignored. Somehow the call "Helen Clark do you want a sausage?" didn't do it for her.
The battle of the politicians at Waitangi this year is being matched by the battle of the broadcasters. Maori Television Service is providing saturation coverage from Waitangi all day until the news at 7.30 pm.
There's a tv in the hotel foyer running MTS coverage - you can't get it in the rooms of the Copthorne which is a disgrace really given the amount of patronage it gets every year from Maori.
The coverage will conclude tonight with a pre-recorded debate including Derek Fox and Tom Scott - the moot is "Why tangi: waste not fresh tears on old grief."
Before leaving, TVNZ got the bash to use a Waitangi phrase from Helen Clark for funding the Iti family's outing to Waitangi. A waste of public money, she says. We will have to judge for ourselves when Robyn Janes' piece runs on Close Up tonight.
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