It's been a big day in politics,
as the country's parliamentarians were welcomed
on to Waitangi's treaty grounds with yet another rousing powhiri
by the people of the north.
Joining us live from that very location is Irena Smith.
The formal welcome given to the members of parliament
who accompanied Jacinda Ardern went off without a hitch
and was a peaceful occasion.
And while the PM said
that the government was succeeding in their plans to help uplift Maori,
the home people said that the results of that work
are yet to be visibly seen around the country
and that the government needs to get a wriggle on.
The Government returns to be held accountable
for their promises made last year.
The Prime Minister said
that although they haven't achieved everything,
they are still making progress.
The iwi responded with a 'hurry up'.
The good, the bad and the ugly.
You need to get on to them and make them work!
The Opposition leader used his time to take political shots.
Iwi challenged the Government not to rely on statistics
to measure success.
They like to bean count.
I'd like them to measure success based on families
with food on the table, a job to earn an income from,
for all families throughout the Far North.
That's what I'd like to see happen.
Pita Tipene said Maori are still waiting to see
whether their vote for Labour counted.
The government needs to tread quickly but carefully.
Maori have thrown their support behind the Labour Party.
I'd like to see Labour keep their election promises.
Another year, another speech,
but come next year they need to show the fruits of their labours.
What a day Miss Smith.
The museum has made an announcement regarding veterans.
Can you tell us more about that?
That was a major part of the PM's schedule today.
That event was honoured with the attendance
of a veteran from the 28th Maori Battalion from Rotorua.
He came to bring the mauri of that whare.
The museum has been established as a memorial for all Maori soldiers
who have served from World War 1 to the conflict in Afghanistan.
While initially the objects were focused on the 28th Maori Battalion,
the scope of the museum has since been expanded.
The government has said that the planned museum
should be up and running by Waitangi Day 2020.
And shortly before Don Brash was there,
no doubt there was friendly interaction there?
I wouldn't say that!
He is here by way of invitation by the hosts of Te Tii Marae.
You could say he stood in the firing line.
Those who opposed him didn't let him off the hook
when it came to his views
surrounding the Treaty of Waitangi and Maori,
his views surrounding the cost of settling treaty claims.
Probably the great thing for him
is that he didn't mud or excrement chucked at him,
but he did have strong words and objections right at him
when he arrived at the marae.
They say he was really silenced.
So Irena, what's ahead tomorrow for Waitangi?
Tomorrow is, of course,
the big event where we commemorate the Treaty itself.
Services begin at Te Whare Runanga at 5am.
It'll be a multi-faith service
and several ministers will take part in it.
There will be a walk tomorrow
that's been organised by people from The Hokianga.
It's scheduled to start from Te Tii
and they will walk to Te Whare Runanga
where they will raise the issue of waste being released in to Hokianga
and concerns that people are getting sick from drinking that water.
Thank you for your update, Irena Smith.