Expect some uncomfortable moments for the government at their pōwhiri this morning, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here.
What makes this Waitangi Day different
Aotearoa has witnessed many memorable Waitangi Days, and there’s every reason to expect tomorrow will be one of them. The passions stoked by the government’s approach to Treaty issues have been simmering all year; tomorrow is an opportunity for Māori to express a message of unity and defiance on the biggest stage yet. “Everyone that lives in this country has a lot at stake over the next few days,” wrote the Herald’s David Fisher on Saturday (paywalled), adding that the forces unleashed by Waitangi 2024 could impact us all for years to come. Waitangi this year will be historic for its breadth alone, notes Spinoff editor Mad Chapman, who’ll be live-blogging from Waitangi all day. “With a record-breaking attendance of at least 40,000 expected to pass through by Tuesday, Christopher Luxon and his coalition partners can expect a large, if not necessarily warm, welcome to their first Waitangi Day as a new government.”
Separate pōwhiri symbolise fracturing of political consensus
On Saturday Labour and the Greens attended the official pōwhiri for the opposition parties – a markedly different scene than under the previous government, when a single parliamentary pōwhiri was held prior to the main event. That’s all changed this year. The government arrives this morning, while Te Pāti Māori chose to walk with the Kiingitanga, who arrived at Waitangi on Sunday afternoon. Sunday’s pōwhiri was a historic moment in itself, as Kiingi Tūheitia does not usually attend Waitangi commemorations but did so this year in a gesture of indigenous unity. As to why Te Pāti Māori arrived with the Kiingitanga and not their parliamentary colleagues, co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said, “it’s more important that we stand here in unity with those that represent te iwi Māori – and that’s not Labour”.
Low expectations for Luxon may work in his favour
When prime minister Chris Luxon walks onto the Treaty Grounds for the government pōwhiri at 11am today, he’ll be accompanied by Act leader David Seymour, NZ First’s Winston Peters and Shane Jones, and other members of the coalition government. It’ll likely be an intense moment for both hosts and guests. Luxon will be hoping to make a better impression than he did at the Iwi Chairs Forum on Friday. While iwi leaders had a long list of concerns to raise pertaining to the government’s approach to Māori, “Luxon, as he did at Rātana, decided to start talking about school attendance levels,” reports Glenn McConnell at Stuff. “Some iwi leaders at the hui… described it as insulting.” Fisher says things today may not be as bad for Luxon as some think. Expectations of the new PM are “so low that – short of a catastrophic misstep – Luxon is unlikely to emerge in worse shape than he arrives”.
Even if Seymour loses at Waitangi, he still wins
David Fisher’s paywalled piece in the Weekend Herald is an interesting look at the potential political winners from this week’s events. There are opportunities for figures on both sides of the political divide to shine. Kingi Tūheitia, Te Pāti Māori, rising Labour Māori caucus stars Willow-Jean Prime and Peeni Henare, and even NZ First’s “son of Tai Tokerau” Shane Jones all have the chance to emerge with their mana strengthened. But the biggest winner, for very different reasons, will be David Seymour, Fisher says. “Should he become the focus of protest at Waitangi, it will boost his profile in the eyes of his supporters and be seen as proof he is poking the right bear. So even if it goes badly, Waitangi will go well for Seymour.”
