A Ngapuhi elder has put his personal animosity towards the Government aside, saying the Prime Minister should be welcome at next year's Waitangi Day commemorations.
A meeting was held at Te Tii Marae over the weekend to discuss Prime Minister John Key's visit to Waitangi after he avoided the marae this year following a call to ban him from the site.
The general consensus was that he should be welcomed at next year's commemorations.
Ngapuhi kaumatua Kingi Taurua, who had called to ban the Government from Te Tii Marae at this year's Waitangi Day commemorations in a protest against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) signing, said he had put his personal views aside.
"We had people who were supporting the idea to have John Key attend the Waitangi Day commemorations and they wanted to talk to him personally about particular issues, and by not allowing him to attend there is a possibility they will not get their views across," said Mr Taurua.