King Tuheitia and his wife Atawhai. Photo / Paul Estcourt
King Tuheitia's coronation commemorations capped a triple crown for John Key yesterday.
The National Party leader was making his first visit to Turangawaewae Marae, the headquarters of the Kingitanga movement.
After a first visit to Ratana early this year, and a return trip to Waitangi, Mr Key joked
this visit capped off some of the biggest events in the Maori calendar.
"It is the treble crown - I hope we get the gold medal after this."
Mr Key came with one of his party's largest delegations in years. MPs Georgina te Heuheu and David Bennett, who are regular visitors, were joined by Mana candidate Hekia Parata and her husband, Wira Gardiner, a former National candidate.
While the polls have National sitting comfortable throughout the country, Mr Key said the party wasn't under any illusions about its impact with Maori voters.
In electorates such as Hauraki-Waikato, which Labour's Nanaia Mahuta holds, support would take longer to build, he said.
"We come with realistic expectations. When we go around various different marae in the country we're not always going immediately to win votes but to build a relationship.
"That's about reaching out and putting that relationship on a firm foundation - from that ultimately some support will come."
Both Mr Key and Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen spoke on the marae.
Dr Cullen will sign the Waikato River Treaty settlement tomorrow. Negotiations have occurred against a background of tribal leaders watching over the process, he said.
The co-management deal would allow past grievances to be dealt with.
Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia said Maori appreciated National had come in the spirit of good will. He hoped it would continue.
"Maori have good will in spades but you've got to be consistent. Helen Clark has been coming here for 15 years. I've been coming here for 36 years."
The Maori Party had all four of its MPs and all candidates present yesterday, and Hone Harawira handed Mr Key a backhanded compliment for his attendance.
"It's good politics. Anyone with pretensions to power needs to recognise the importance of big Maori occasions - and John Key certainly has pretensions to power."
