Come with me, Helen, offers Titewhai

By VERNON SMALL

deputy political editor

Maori activist Titewhai Harawira will offer to escort Prime Minister Helen Clark at Waitangi Day commemorations.

Mrs Harawira told the Herald yesterday that she would probably make the approach today and offer the same arrangement she had with previous Prime Minister Jenny Shipley at Waitangi last year.

She said it would give Helen Clark the chance to speak from the treaty grounds, but speaking on the lower marae had not been resolved.

A spokesman for Helen Clark said she had no comment to make on the offer.

Mrs Harawira's comment came after an approach from National MP Georgina te Heuheu.

"I am wondering why it is that the PM would not seriously consider on behalf of all New Zealanders giving this speech ... from the treaty grounds," Mrs te Heuheu had said.

"I'm certain Titewhai would guarantee her safe passage."

Making the offer, Mrs Harawira said: "I have been waiting for someone to ask me if I was prepared to do that. Of course I would."

She said Jenny Shipley had understood the protocol that women spoke after the tapu was lifted.

"You never heard all this stuff last year," she said.

"The bigger picture is about the Crown sitting down and working with our people.

"There is a protocol for the cathedral, there is a protocol for Parliament and there is a protocol for the marae."

Helen Clark was yesterday sending strong signals that she was unlikely to go to Waitangi, although a decision would be made this week.

"I can't say I'm too impressed by what I've heard out of there in the last two days," she said on radio.

"What I've got to ask myself is why, when you know other people are issuing warm invitations to the Prime Minister to come and be part of what they're doing on a special day, why would you go to the one place in New Zealand which is determined to cause trouble?"

Helen Clark said that in many ways her heart was with going to Waitangi.

"But your head tells you that it's the year 2000, it's a new century. It's a fresh start in many ways and it's time to put the wrangles of Waitangi behind you and say after all that this is a day for all New Zealand."

A spokesman said Helen Clark had received invitations to the Otamatea marae near Dargaville and to Ngai Tahu celebrations on Banks Peninsula near Christchurch.

There were also tentative invitations to attend events at Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia and in Wellington.

Maori Affairs Minister Dover Samuels said Helen Clark should go to Waitangi, adding that Maori leaders had vouched for her safety.

Ngapuhi elders agreed to make a one-day exception to protocol and allow Helen Clark to speak during the formal part of the welcome proceedings.

Mr Samuels said he had always believed the Government should be at the treaty grounds on Waitangi Day.

Mrs Harawira reduced Helen Clark to tears after challenging her right to speak during formal Waitangi Day proceedings in 1998.

Waitangi marae chairman Kingi Taurua has suggested Mrs Harawira had an "agenda" as she had allowed Jenny Shipley to speak in 1998 but not Miss Clark, and last year had accompanied Mrs Shipley.

But Mrs Harawira said it was not about Helen Clark or party politics but the rights of Maori women to speak on the marae.

Mr Taurua said he was seriously considering ejecting Mrs Harawira from the marae on Waitangi Day.