Brash plays waiting game over marae

By RUTH BERRY

National Party leader Don Brash may snub Te Tii Marae at Waitangi tomorrow in protest at the partial media ban likely to be imposed.

In turn, deposed Maori Affairs and associate Constitutional and Treaty Negotiations spokeswoman Georgina te Heuheu may snub Dr Brash, by failing to accompany him.

Dr Brash yesterday described the proposed media ban as "very poor indeed. Deplorable is the word that comes to mind".

He refused to say whether he would join other politicians at Te Tii tomorrow, saying "I have not yet crossed that bridge".

However, it is understood the caucus is considering how Dr Brash, riding high after a week of exposure over his speech on race relations, might signal his opposition to the proposed ban.

Options being considered include snubbing Te Tii or voicing his protest while on the marae.

The downside to avoiding the marae is that it will spark accusations from critics that he is scared to attend.

The ban is expected to prevent most mainstream media representatives from entering the marae. This may include Maori journalists working for the major news outlets.

It is not yet clear, however, whether some Maori news organisations may also be banned.

Last year, the National Party leader at the time, Bill English, promised to register a protest about a similar ban while at Te Tii.

However, he backed down after advice from Mrs te Heuheu and also because, he said, he saw several mainstream journalists on the marae.

Some of those journalists had been told they could go on to the marae as long as they didn't take recording equipment.

That condition added to the confusion about the ban, which had been imposed because of concerns that Waitangi commemorations had not been fairly reported.

Mrs te Heuheu confirmed that now she had lost her shadow portfolios she was reconsidering whether to accompany Dr Brash.

"I'll see how the rest of the week pans out because it has been quite a heavy week for me."

Dr Brash said he would not be concerned if she bowed out.

Asked what reaction he expected at Waitangi, Dr Brash, who will be attending his first commemorations there, reiterated that some Maori had supported his speech.

"But given what has happened to some political leaders and the Queen in the past, the possibility of sustaining some abuse is there."

Asked if he believed Waitangi should continue to be the national day, he said, "Ask me afterwards".

Former National MP Ian Peters, now a regional manager for Te Puni Kokiri (the Maori Development Ministry), said Dr Brash should think seriously about going to the marae.

"Maori people are certainly not going to welcome him as their best friend."