Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed he will not attend events at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds on Waitangi Day.
He also said he won’t attend the National Iwi Chairs Forum in Waitangi on February 4. He said he met with iwi leaders in Wellington today.
In a statement, Luxon said he had been in Waitangi for the last two years – including his first as Prime Minister – and had decided to head to another part of the country next year.
“It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different iwi,” he said.
“I have spoken to Waitangi National Trust chair Pita Tipene and wished them all the best for their event in Waitangi.”
He said the Government would have senior representatives at events around the country – including the Treaty Grounds.
Luxon said today’s meeting with iwi leaders was a “very positive and productive discussion”.
“There are a number of areas where the Government and Māori are already working together, for example in health, housing, infrastructure and climate adaptation.
“There is a lot of great work being done by iwi throughout the country and there are many opportunities for us to work together and do so much more.”
Details of where Luxon would spend Waitangi Day would be announced closer to the time.
Other prime ministers have not attended events at Waitangi on Waitangi Day at various times for a variety of reasons, including Helen Clark, Sir John Key and Sir Bill English.
The Prime Minister said he has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. (Source: 1News)
National Waitangi Trust chairperson Pita Tipene said he was “very disappointed” in the Prime Minister’s decision to spend Waitangi Day elsewhere.
“As far as I’m concerned, there is no other place to be on Waitangi Day than at Waitangi itself.”
Tipene said Luxon had phoned him an hour before his decision went public.
“He’s told me he needs to be in other places, I take him on his word. He had been invited by other iwi leaders to come and commemorate Te Tiriti o Waitangi with them. That may be so, but other iwi did not sign Te Tiriti o Waitangi on the 6th of February, when it was first signed.
“I know there’s a whole lot of pressures on the Government, the Prime Minister, but at the Waitangi National Trust, we want to keep holding those conversations, as heated as they may get.”
Luxon running from ‘problems of his own creation’ – Hipkins
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from “problems of his own creation” with his decision not to go to Waitangi, Labour leader Chris Hipkins says.
“Waitangi Day is an incredibly special time of year, and being able to go up and celebrate where the Treaty was first signed is a privilege,” Hipkins said today in a statement.
He said Luxon’s decision “shows that he is not willing to stand on his own track record, and defend the decisions his Government is making.
“That’s because despite all of his rhetoric, he knows his decisions have made life more difficult for Māori in New Zealand. He is running away from problems of his own creation.”
Hipkins added that Luxon “could easily do both” by attending Waitangi celebrations in the lead-up to the day before marking the occasion elsewhere.
“But he’s choosing not to. It shows that he is not willing to honour the Treaty of Waitangi despite his claims he would as Prime Minister.”
