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.

Maori Party MP Hone Hawawira says the solution to the Foreshore and Seabed Act would be to put the foreshore and seabed under Maori control.

Nationhood and togetherness were the key messages at a dawn service at the Treaty Grounds today.

The full text of Prime Minister John Key's Waitangi Day 2010 speech.

Prime Minister John Key will use his Waitangi Day address this morning to tackle extremists on both sides of the race relations divide.

To the powerful men and sporadic women of Whitehall, gathered in this room, on this day, the young man standing in front of them has no last name.

Media are being asked to cough up cash to cover Waitangi Day celebrations, with a Ngapuhi elder asking reporters and cameramen to hand over hundreds of dollars.

The woman who designed the Tino Rangatiratanga flag disputes accusations that the family of embattled Maori Party MP Hone Harawira are "cashing in" on the flag.

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira's family reportedly planned to make money from the Govt's decision to allow the tino rangitiritanga flag to be flown on government buildings on Waitangi Day.

An anticyclone moving slowly over NZ is likely to bring the hottest days of summer yet, MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt says.

Famous stretch of coastline in the Far North could be renamed under a tentative Treaty of Waitangi deal.

New Zealand sevens coach Gordon Tietjens has named a clutch of newcomers in his 16-strong training squad.

A Northland hapu leader says flying the "tino rangatiratanga" flag at the Treaty grounds during Waitangi celebrations would be a breach of treaty rights.

The Labour Party has described the decision to fly the Tino Rangatiratanga flag as the official flag of Maoridom as "tokenism".

Maori leaders disagree over whether the Tino Rangatiratanga flag will ever fly officially at Waitangi.