Prime Minister Helen Clark has responded to a threat to ban the Crown from Waitangi Day celebrations with a defiant challenge to "make my day."
The Waitangi organising committee will get a strong recommendation from its chairman, Pita Paraone, that the Government be invited to the 2002 commemorations.
But some organisers are against Helen Clark being invited back.
The Government decided not to attend Tuesday's official events, although Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia and his associate, Tariana Turia, were at some functions - both saying they were attending as Maori leaders rather than Government representatives.
Helen Clark said the issue was whether the Crown could be treated with dignity at Waitangi on Waitangi Day.
The only trouble at Tuesday's Waitangi festivities was when about 200 protesters marched up the hill from Te Tii Marae and gathered at the flagstaff for speeches before marching across the Treaty House lawn to the church service in the Whare Runanga.
The service was briefly disrupted by a loud haka, before the group was urged by veteran protester Titewhai Harawira to move quietly to the front.
Helen Clark said yesterday that the "real agenda" of those behind the protest had been revealed - to raise the question of the legitimacy of the Crown and New Zealand's system of government.
"That's not a debate we're going to engage in."
Waitangi marae committee chairman Kingi Taurua has said that as far as he was concerned, Helen Clark was "finished" at Waitangi and would not be invited back.
Asked about the Government being banned from Waitangi, Helen Clark remarked: "Make my day."
"Look, we are going to commemorate Waitangi Day in an appropriate way.
"I personally am appalled at the rudeness of people who storm into a church service and disrupt it.
"I don't care what religion, culture it is, I don't think anybody thinks that that sort of behaviour is appropriate."
She added that Mr Taurua "doesn't occupy quite the position of command he used to there."
Former Maori Affairs minister Dover Samuels yesterday said he would urge the Crown to reconsider its stand on Waitangi.
He said the protest was minor and and did not ruin what was a very enjoyable atmosphere.
Mr Samuels said the key to resolving the issue was involving the younger people in discussions with the Crown, elders and Waitangi Day organisers.
If their wishes could be accommodated, it would go a long way toward resolving much of the conflict.
Ngapuhi leader and Waitangi Fisheries Commission chairman Shane Jones agreed that discussions with young Maori over the future of Waitangi Day were needed if the problems surrounding the day were to be resolved.
He blamed outsiders for the disturbance, saying their actions at the morning church service were extraordinarily rude.
He believed allowing Mr Horomia to attend the commemorations was the right move, and said there seemed little point in Helen Clark attending if she felt her safety could be assured only with demonstrations of force by police.
- NZPA
'Make my day' - PM hits back at Waitangi threat
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