Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Labour MP Willie Jackson react to the Prime Minister not attending Waitangi next year.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will not attend Waitangi Treaty Grounds events on Waitangi Day next year, prompting Te Pāti Māori to accuse him of cowardice.
The Prime Minister on Thursday afternoon released a statement saying that while the Government would have “senior representatives” in attendance at events around the country, including at the Treaty grounds, he would be “elsewhere”.
Details of where the Prime Minister will spend the national day will be released closer to the time.
“It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different iwi,” said Luxon.
“I have been in Waitangi the last two years, including in my first year as Prime Minister, so next year I have decided to head to another part of the country.
“It was a very positive and productive discussion. There are a number of areas where the Government and Māori are already working together, for example in health, housing, infrastructure and climate adaptation,” Luxon said.
“There is a lot of great work being done by iwi throughout the country and there are many opportunities for us to work together and do so much more.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, flanked by Act leader David Seymour (left) and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters (right), being welcomed on to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in 2024. Photo / Getty Images
Tipene said Luxon’s decision was disappointing and there was “no other place for the Prime Minister to be” on Waitangi Day.
He said Luxon had contacted him today to advise him of the decision.
“I’m very disappointed. I do understand other iwi have invited him, he will still send senior Cabinet ministers to Waitangi to be part of the commemorations but, yeah, we as a board and the Waitangi National Trust are always looking to the kāwanatanga [Government] to front up.”
He said there had been some calls for the Government not to be invited to Waitangi, given the controversy over its measures impacting on Māori, such as the Treaty Principles Bill.
“But still it’s disappointing the Prime Minister won’t be there because he is the lead for the kāwanatanga and it needs to be led.”
He said Te Whare Rūnanga was built to allow for ongoing conversations about Te Tiriti on the Treaty grounds.
“We as the Waitangi National Trust want to ensure that, whatever happens, the ongoing conversation continues to be held on the day that it was signed. There is no other place for the Prime Minister to be than in front of Te Whare Rūnanga on the 6th of February, where Te Tiriti was signed.”
Earlier this week, Tipene had urged the PM to continue to mark the day at Waitangi after Luxon revealed he was considering visiting other places. Luxon had said security was not one of the reasons for his decision-making and Tipene said the organisers worked hard to ensure it was safe.
“We uphold our manaakitanga [hospitality] at Waitangi and all manuhiri or visitors are welcome. And we’ll do our darnedest to accommodate people and make sure they’re safe through some demanding times.”
Waitangi National Trust chairman Pita Tipene says the Prime Minister’s decision is disappointing. Photo / Susan Botting
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer believed Luxon’s decision was “cowardly” and a “gutless decision.
She said he should “front up” on New Zealand’s national day, given his Government had committed to partial support of the Treaty Principles Bill as well as repealing other legislation concerning Māori.
Ngarewa-Packer felt the decision indicated Luxon either didn’t want to face the consequences of his Government’s decisions or he didn’t care about Māori opposition to those policies.
Senior Labour MP Willie Jackson said he was sad to hear Luxon would be absent at Waitangi.
“Waitangi expects it, te ao Māori expects it a when you’ve had a Government that has prioritised taking away rights from Māori, then you should front at Waitangi.”
While acknowledging some Prime Ministers had not attended Waitangi in the past, Jackson said that changed when celebrations were moved to the upper marae.
“[Luxon] clearly can’t find it in himself to front Māoridom, and that’s a shame because that’s the nation on show, that’s where all our iwi leaders are and they’ll be rightly very, very disappointed as we are.”
Earlier this week, Jackson said he had heard that there were concerns about MPs’ safety, but Luxon on Monday said security wasn’t an issue.
Jackson today clarified he had been informed of those concerns by a “senior organiser” but noted such concerns were raised every year.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins argued Luxon was able to attend the politics-focused events, usually held the day prior to Waitangi Day, while also celebrating the signing of the Treaty elsewhere on February 6.
“It shows that he is not willing to honour the Treaty of Waitangi despite his claims he would as Prime Minister.”
He noted that former National Prime Minister Sir Bill English had visited Ngāti Whātua instead, which was a “really good example”. Other Prime Ministers, including Helen Clark and Sir John Key, also decided to stay away from Waitangi and Te Tii marae on occasion.
Luxon’s decision would likely mean Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, who is from Northland, would be the highest ranking Government representative at the Waitangi celebrations. Peters has been approached for comment.
Act’s David Seymour, the architect of the Treaty Principles Bill, has previously confirmed he would attend Waitangi but today would not comment on Luxon’s decision.
