By VANESSA BIDOIS
Prime Minister Helen Clark is under pressure to return to Waitangi on February 6, but a bitter split over the rights of women to speak remains unresolved.
The Ngapuhi council of tribal elders met at Matauri Bay on Saturday to discuss this year's Waitangi Day commemorations and has invited the Labour leader back to the treaty grounds.
Helen Clark was reduced to tears in 1998 after veteran protester Titewhai Harawira blocked her from speaking on Te Tii Marae.
The Minister of Maori Affairs, Dover Samuels - who was presented on Saturday with a korowai (cloak) by the elders - said he did not want to see a repeat of the confrontation or embarrassment which have marred previous Waitangi Day ceremonies.
But Mrs Harawira said yesterday that Mr Samuels and the council of elders were kidding themselves if they thought they could dictate events on Waitangi Day.
Challenging the new Government to front up at Waitangi and explain its Maori affairs policies, Mrs Harawira pledged to block any attempt by Helen Clark to speak at the official welcome.
Mrs Harawira escorted former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley at Waitangi last year, but neither Mrs Shipley nor Helen Clark spoke at the powhiri (welcome) at Te Tii Marae. Mrs Harawira, who wants the speaking rights of Maori women recognised before those of Pakeha, accused elders at Saturday's hui of making derogatory statements about Maori women.
"If the year 2000 is going to be about that, then I can promise them a damn good shake-up for Waitangi this year."
The chairman of the Waitangi Marae Trust Board, Kingi Taurua, said the protocol which affected Helen Clark two years ago was still being discussed by the tribe.
Mr Taurua said Ngapuhi women were permitted to speak inside the meeting house at the marae, and Helen Clark would have an opportunity to address the gathering there. "I have no intention of supporting the idea of change to get women to talk on the marae."
Pita Paraone, the co-chairman of the Waitangi Day organising committee, said the elders would meet in about a week to clarify the protocol for Waitangi Day.
Helen Clark could not be contacted for comment last night.
Maori still split over gag on PM
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