KEY POINTS:
The Navy will head back to Waitangi next year with a larger and more ceremonial presence to celebrate the signing of the Treaty 167 years ago.
The service has confirmed it will have a guard of about 50 on the Treaty House grounds and the warship Te Kaha in the Bay of Islands.
The Navy cut down its presence at Waitangi when Maori protesters first clashed with police there more than a decade ago.
The Chief of the Navy, Rear Admiral David Ledson, said that although its contribution in February would not be a full ceremonial return, it was a "little step" towards restoring a full ceremonial presence to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.
He said Te Kaha would fire a salute and host a cocktail party.
The Navy wanted to "take incremental steps to do our bit to make it a day of celebration ... This year the reception was very good".
Pita Paraone, the chairman of the Waitangi Day Organising Committee, said the return of the Navy with a greater presence was very welcome.
"That will be fantastic. It will be reminiscent of former glory days. I am really excited about that."
The last time the Navy was at Waitangi with a large presence was in 1994, when Prince Charles visited for a three-hour formal ceremony.
That year the service had its band and a colour party, and the frigate Wellington supplied a royal guard.
The Navy has maintained the flagstaff at the Treaty House grounds since 1947 and in 1990 was presented with a charter that allowed it to march at any time "with bands playing, colours flying, bayonets fixed and swords drawn through the lands of Tai Tokerau, especially the Treaty Grounds".
Mr Paraone said Prime Minister Helen Clark had yet to say whether she would be in Waitangi. "She has been to Waitangi for the last couple of years. I wouldn't be surprised if she chose to go to another part of the country."
A spokesman said Helen Clark would announce her Waitangi plans when they were finalised.
- NZPA
