Maori King advisor Tuku Morgan denies any snub of Labour's Jacinda Ardern for Maori King celebrations

Maori King advisor and Maori Party President Tukoroirangi Morgan. PHOTO/Dean Purcell

Tukoroirangi Morgan, Maori Party President and advisor to Maori King Tuheitia, has denied there was any deliberate snub of new Labour leader Jacinda Ardern over her decision not to attend celebrations to mark the anniversary of the coronation of the Maori King.

Ardern spent Friday unveiling Labour's new hoardings in Auckland and will launch the campaign on Sunday - hinting former Prime Minister Helen Clark could be in attendance. Ardern's mother is also due to arrive back from Niue on Saturday to help out.

However, Ardern will not attend the Koroneihana (Coronation) celebrations at Turangawaewae and Labour MP Nanaia Mahuta said that was because Labour had not received an invitation to attend.

She did not know if that was because of King Tuheitia's speech lasy year, in which he said he would not support Labour because of then leader Andrew Little's unwillingness to work with the Maori Party. The King's spokesman Rahui Papa is now the Maori Party's candidate in Waikato-Tainui - standing against Mahuta, who is the King's cousin.

Mahuta said she did not know if the lack of an invitation was a deliberate snub.

"It might have been a change in guard in the organisation in the office of the King, I don't know. What I do know is Labour hasn't received a formal invitation and on the back of comments made at last year's Koroneihana it would be improper for Labour in an official capacity to assume they could just come."

Ardern was willing to attend on Monday for a church service and the King's speech, but Mahuta advised against it. She said Ardern was born in the area so was sensitive to the issues.

Morgan denied it was a snub. "What sort of nonsense is that?"

"Everyone is welcome there. There's no bias."

He said formal invites were not usually issued - political parties and other groups checked to find out when it was appropriate to attend and political leaders often went to Church Service and King's speech.

Asked if the possibility of a repeat of Tuheitia's speech might be a concern for Labour, Morgan laughed and said "s*** happens, we've all got to face our challenges, good or bad."

Tuheitia delivered that speech in front of Little last year, who said afterwards the King was abusing his office by endorsing Papa.

Little had said the Maori Party was not likely to be part of any government he led and after Ardern took over, Morgan had written to her to say the Maori Party was hopeful of a more positive relationship.

National leader Bill English was not attending this year either because he was campaigning on Sunday and Cabinet was meeting on Monday.

Treaty Minister Chris Finlayson and other Government MPs will go on Sunday as will Mana leader Hone Harawira, and The Opportunities Party Gareth Morgan. Maori Party MPs Te Ururoa Flavell and Marama Fox were going on with their iwi rather than as a party.

Mahuta was attending much of the anniversary commemorations as were Labour Maori MPs Peeni Henare - who is in line to take over his late father's seat on the King's council. Kelvin Davis was also attending on Monday.