6.15pm - By IAN STUART
Prime Minister Helen Clark was pushed and jostled and nearly fell as she entered the Te Tii Waitangi meeting house amid ugly scenes this afternoon.
The Prime Minister was surrounded by several of her MPs, plain clothed police and Ngapuhi Maori, but that failed to stop protesters closing in on her and pushing her almost to the ground moments after she entered the marae gates.
She was escorted by veteran Maori protester Titewhai Harawira and as she walked up the ramp to the meeting house the noise and jostling grew in intensity and a worried looking Prime Minister nearly fell.
Her minders struggled to clear a path for her as protesters surged in a crush while abusing her, abusing the Government and telling her what they thought of the seabed and foreshore proposals.
One woman was visibly upset at the way "our rangatira" had been treated.
"This is not good, not good," she said.
As Miss Clark struggled to make headway in the crush several large Maori jumped over the rails, including one wearing two large knives on his belt, to help clear a path.
The abuse continued as she entered the meeting house but the crowd drew back and began to chant anti-Governmant chants.
Miss Clark had been due shortly before 5pm, but did not arrive until 5.20pm. There was some debate as to whether she would turn up because of the activities outside the marae.
As the crowd waited for her, several Labour cabinet members including Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia were verbally abused. They were told they were traitors to Maoridom and they would not be re-elected.
- NZPA
Helen Clark met by barricade of protestors at Waitangi
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