The final South Island treaty claim has been settled today with the signing of a deed of settlement between the Crown and Ngati Tama ki Te Tau Ihu.

My jovial slip of the tongue about remaining the co-leader "until I die" was not what I intended, writes Dr Pita Sharples.

One of New Zealand history's darkest, most profound grievances is close to resolution after Tuhoe and the Crown completed negotiations on an unlikely settlement worth $170 million.

The Crown and Tuhoe marked another step in settling the iwi's Treaty of Waitangi grievances today.

A Waitangi elder has used the opening of a historic Waitangi Tribunal hearing to call on the Government to buy back private land in the Bay of Islands so it can be returned to hapu.

John Key's Government has cleared the final hurdle for its flagship asset sales policy and is set to press the go button on the sale of Mighty River shares on Monday.

The Supreme Court yesterday heard final submissions on a second case that could affect the Government's planned partial sale of Mighty River Power.

As you'll know by breathless media reports, the old battle-axe Titewhai Harawira took the country to the brink of disaster just as the Prime Minister and other dignitaries were about to arrive at the lower Waitangi marae.

On the way to Waitangi we stopped at a coffee bar in Whangarei. The attendant said he had grown up in the Bay of Islands but wouldn't go where we were going.

A group of immigrants chose Waitangi Day to become New Zealand citizens. Reporters Vaimoana Tapaleao and Kieran Campbell met some of the new New Zealanders.

John Key and David Shearer have both voiced support for a four-year parliamentary term - but the change will require public buy-in to happen.

Kaumatua at Te Tii Marae have been accused of being "women bashers'' after a stand-off over who would be the PM's escort this morning.

A UMR Research poll commissioned by the Human Rights Commission has found fewer than a quarter of New Zealanders agree the relationship is healthy.

David Shearer hopes to make Waitangi Day a day of celebrations rather than angst by moving the New Years' Honours to that day and issuing a ream of awards.

Ngapuhi kuia Titewhai Harawira and Ani Taurua are both vowing to bring the Prime Minister on to Te Tii Marae today at Waitangi.

Labour leader David Shearer has claimed to be putting in a lot of work with Maori, but in a new poll only one third of Maori who supported Labour knew he was the party's leader.

The Waitangi Tribunal has recommended a settlement package for Far North iwi Ngati Kahu totalling $42.518 million.

The sale of power shares would create barriers to the Government's ability to provide redress for Maori rights, Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias says.

The Maori Council says key principles behind its 1987 Lands case victory apply with greater force over its current bid to delay the sale of Mighty River Power.

The Maori Council's final bid to delay the Government's flagship asset sales policy until Maori water claims are dealt with.