Rogue MP Hone Harawira has been suspended from the Maori Party for what its leadership describes as a five year legacy of ill discipline.

Waitangi Day has been "hijacked by the angry few" and all of NZ needs to reclaim it, Peter Dunne says.

Speaking at Waitangi celebrations today, Maori Party co-leader Dr Pita Sharples said rogue MP Hone Harawira was undermining party leadership. Meanwhile, a peaceful hikoi with around 200 protesters took place this afternoon.

Early risers filed into the whare on the Treaty Grounds to listen to prayers led by the Prime Minister John Key, the British High Commissioner and Dr Pita Sharples.

Tonight's docu-drama Waitangi - What Really Happened goes behind the scenes of the most talked-about document in our country's history. Story consultant Witi Ihimaera reveals how he got involved.

Controversial Maori Party MP Hone Harawira has defended a protest by his nephew as Prime Minister John Key entered Te Tii Marae for Waitangi celebrations today.

Hone Harawira says he has no intention of leaving the Maori Party, despite saying some 'dickheads' within it were trying to expel him.

Race Relations Commissioner Joris De Bres says demanding media companies pay to enter a Waitangi marae on NZ's national day is ill-advised but unlikely to be illegal.

A Maori leader has branded members of his own iwi "crazed dogs" for demanding media pay to enter a Waitangi marae on NZ's national day.

Nature, wildife, culture, history, gorgeous food and a dose of adrenalin - Cate Foster takes advantage of the pleasures of the Bay of Islands.

Up to 95 homes in Auckland's Franklin Rd now have their Xmas lights on at night, says the founder of the annual spectacle.

Maori land protesters have been removed from a Far North sailing club on a District Council reserve, with 10 arrested and departing in a police van.

A Ngapuhi leader is calling for a nine per cent economic development tax to be levied on everyone living inside the iwi's boundary.

Northland Maori want a special economic development tax as part of their Treaty settlement.

In defensive mode over National's Maori policy agenda, John Key says separatism has no place in New Zealand.

The official warning over a tsunami that threatened the entire east coast of New Zealand today has been downgraded to an advisory, but there is still a threat from ocean surges.

Civil Defence authorities have downgraded the tsunami warning for New Zealand. However, New Zealand authorities are warning that there could be surges for up to 24 hours.

New Zealand east coastal areas aren't out of the woods yet, with Civil Defence authorities and scientists electing keep the tsunami warning in place.

The first wave has reached the Chatham Islands, after a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit Chile overnight. An official tsunami alert remains in place for New Zealand's entire east coast.