Our attitude to Waitangi Day is so sombre, it should be renamed Waitangi Awareness Day, Raybon Kan writes.

The annual humiliation of prime ministers at Waitangi's lower marae needs to be knocked on the head for good, writes Brian Rudman.

The employers of a protester who threw a sex toy at Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce will not say whether she will face disciplinary action.

Now, if Maori at Waitangi promise our Prime Minister a hostile welcome, why should he go? Alan Duff writes.

Charles and Camilla send New Zealanders a greeting in te reo Maori and reveal a golden pendant given to them during last year's royal tour.

His right-hand man was the target of a hurled dildo at Waitangi but Prime Minister John Key says he will consider making a return to the country's spiritual birthplace.

Waitangi Day 2016 has been a day largely dominated by family, festivities and fun - a stark contrast to the past few days where political squabble has been the agenda.

Prime Minister John Key says a protest where a sex toy was thrown at one of his senior ministers at Waitangi was "appalling".

Tauranga's celestial navigator and voyaging waka skipper Jack Thatcher is due to take a prominent ceremonial role in New Zealand's nationhood celebrations at Waitangi today.

Steven Joyce copped a dildo to the face yesterday afternoon prompting a ribbing from international media.

Back in 1997, a young would-be rapper from Manurewa went to a Waitangi Day concert at Manukau City Centre's Civic Square in south Auckland.

Join us for all the action from the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.

A new book uncovers the story of New Zealand's best-known Treaty painting and the man behind it. Peter Alsop reveals a tale that's been 78 years in the making.

Torrential rain and Prime Minister's absence meant it was an uncharacteristically subdued day at Waitangi, until it was livened up by a flying dildo.

The last thing we need this morning is another lament about protests at Waitangi and this will not be one, writes John Roughan.

So today, let's not allow the racism of the few to spoil a fantastic day for the many. Happy Waitangi Day, my fellow Kiwis, writes Lizzie Marvelly.

The Treaty of Waitangi is considered New Zealand's founding document, an agreement between the Crown and Maori, the country's indigenous people.

The Prime Minister will mark Waitangi Day by attending the NRL Auckland Nines tournament at Eden Park and other events in Auckland.

New Zealand will welcome 24 new citizens at Government House tomorrow.

COMMENT: The Prime Minister promised he would not quit Waitangi - and he has broken that promise. But here's the thing - nobody cares, writes Larry Williams.

A group of around 50 protesters were welcomed onto Te Tii Marae.

TOBY MANHIRE: John Key's Waitangi decision is a victory for those who long for a national day more like Australia's twisted celebration.

Labour leader Andrew Little has accused Prime Minister John Key of a lack of leadership and says he will still visit Te Tii Marae today.

John Key has pulled out of attending Waitangi, saying "we are simply at a point though where I can't go, as the Prime Minister, onto a marae with a gagging order".

Five walks that highlight the historic significance of Waitangi and nearby areas

John Key says he wont go to Te Tii Marae tomorrow if he is under a new gagging order.

It has all worked out in the end and tomorrow Key will again walk down that aisle toward Ngapuhi with a chorus of protesters as guests, writes Claire Trevett.

To help you plan your day away from the politics here's a guide to what's going on at the Treaty Grounds tomorrow and Saturday.

Te Tii Marae elders say there is a risk of deliberate attempts by protesters to block John Key going on to the marae on Friday.