Waitangi celebrations not pointless, says Maori MP

The annual celebrations at Waitangi are more than just a parade for politicians and protestors, Maori Party MP Hone Harawira says.

Waitangi Day celebrations have come under fire from Auckland University of Technology Maori development academic Paul Moon, who says there is too little focus on promoting a better understanding of the Treaty.

"I think if you are a tourist and you come to this country this weekend the images you will have of Waitangi Day will be ... where Helen Clark will or won't go, where the Governor General will hold a function," he said on National Radio.

"Of course there will be numerous commentators talking about race relations. The one thing you won't find much of in the media is mention of the Treaty itself."

But Mr Harawira, who is part of local iwi Ngapuhi's organising committee, said although that might be the media focus, it was not the situation on the ground.

"Waitangi Day for the last few years has included the welcoming of dignitaries, of tribes from all over the country," Mr Harawira said.

"There is a serious debate of issues and that starts on the Saturday, the Sunday, as well as on Waitangi Day itself."

Speaking on National Radio, he said there was also plenty of sport, music and cultural activities, he said.

"There's up to 30,000 people of all races who come to Waitangi, so it's a bit unrealistic to suggest it's just a parade for politicians and protesters. There aren't 30,000 of them in the country."

Mr Harawira said there would also be a series of speakers on Waitangi Day presenting their views on the state of the nation in the past year and what needs to happen in the next year.

Those speakers would be both Maori and Pakeha.

Mr Harawira, who himself has protested in recent years, said he could not predict if there would be protests at Waitangi this year.

"I don't predict what's going to happen. I think people would be foolish to try make out they know exactly what is going to be happening on that day."

National Party leader Don Brash has said he will this year attend celebrations at Waitangi's lower Te Tii marae, which up until last year was the focus for noisy protest.

Politicians usually visit the marae the day before the holiday.

But Helen Clark skipped the visit last year after Dr Brash was pelted with mud in 2004 and labour ministers were caught in a melee.

This year she will again stick to Waitangi's Treaty grounds on the holiday's eve and the morning of the next day, before attending a festival in Manukau.

Dr Brash returned to Te Tii last year and his spokesman today said he would do so again this year.

Ngapuhi organisers have moved the visit to Saturday -- two days before the holiday -- in an apparent bid to avoid any conflict.

The spokesman said Dr Brash's visit would be conditional upon proper media arrangements.

In 2004 Dr Brash refused to go on to the marae because of a ban on Pakeha media. Last year there was no such ban.

- NZPA