The hope: a niggle-free Waitangi Day

Organisers of this year's Waitangi Day commemorations at Waitangi expect another peaceful, family day of fun and celebration.

Waitangi National Trust chairman Pita Paraone said a full family-oriented list of events had been lined up for the commemorations, that he expected to pass with little, if any, of the protests that dogged the national day's event up until the last decade or so.

However, he said, the Government's plan to remove protection of Treaty of Waitangi rights in planned legislation on partial state asset sales had angered many Maori and some may use Waitangi Day commemorations to make their unhappiness heard.

Section nine of the State Owned Enterprises Act requires the Crown not to act in a manner inconsistent with the principles of the treaty.

"The state asset sales are a real issue in Maoridom at this time. Before that came up I didn't see anything that people would (use the day) to protest about," Mr Paraone said.

"So that issue of state asset sales may invite some protest. Protest is just a small part of Waitangi Day, although it's become less so over recent years."

Waitangi Day commemorations at Waitangi have been a focal point for Maori activists to promote their cause for many years.

At times the protest action has led to violence - the last time in 2009 when Prime Minister John Key was attacked by two Far North brothers as he entered Te Tii Marae.

Mr Paraone said the vast majority of the 20,000 to 30,000 people expected at Waitangi on Monday would be there for the family entertainment, and there would be plenty of that to keep them occupied.

"The only thing we're waiting for is confirmation that the Red Checker (RNZAF) display team will be turning up on Monday. It will be wonderful if they can turn up," he said.

The Waitangi Day demonstration by the Red Checkers aerobatic team will hinge on the outcome of an investigation into a forced landing of one of the planes on the Desert Rd last week.

Mr Paraone said he had only missed a "handful" of Waitangi Day commemorations at Waitangi, and for many years he had been involved in organising the event.

He said his most proud Waitangi Day was in 1990 - the sesquicentennial of the signing of the nations' founding document that was attended by Queen Elizabeth II.

He says it was a time when the whole nation "grew up" and started to give the Treaty of Waitangi the mana it deserved.

"The memories of seeing all those waka return to Waitangi at that time will always be something that I will never forget," he said.

"That year I saw the mood of the nation change and the partnership fully acknowledged."