Politicians are being welcomed on to Te Tii Marae as Waitangi Day Commemorations gear up in the Bay of Islands.
Prime Minister Bill English is staying away from Te Tii today so Labour and the Greens were welcomed onto the marae this morning along with representatives of other political parties.
Yesterday morning Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy was welcomed onto the marae in her first official visit to Waitangi Day commemorations in the Bay.