KEY POINTS:
Prime Minister Helen Clark today defended her decision to not attend the leaders' forum at Te Tii Marae at Waitangi yesterday.
"From my point of view as prime minister I like to maintain a level of dignity," Miss Clark said.
"I've been to Waitangi for 14 of the last 15 years - I've seen it in every possible mood, from tranquillity to extreme ugliness.
"So I've got a very good idea of what works for me and I believe that regardless of party or belief, kiwis don't like to see any prime minister put in the position of being jostled and assaulted."
In an interview with Radio New Zealand, Miss Clark disagreed the forum was important for Maori to air their views to the country's leaders.
"There are many many forums in Maoridom," she said.
"I spent a day and a half last week with Waikato Tainui people where we were able to visit many organisations, we were able to have a very good thorough hui."
She said there had been an "undue media focus" on Te Tii Marae where there had been known to be a lot of trouble, which provided colourful copy.
The most "seminal event in the founding of New Zealand as a modern nation" was associated with Waitangi, with the treaty allowing a legal basis for others to settle here, Miss Clark said.
"Now fast forward to the early 21st Century, New Zealand is a complex multi-cultural society which by world standards lives relatively peacefully, and that is something to be treasured."
Miss Clark this morning hosted the Prime Minister's breakfast at Waitangi, where she was joined by iwi leaders, the Governor-General Anand Satyanand, the Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias, and other dignitaries.
- NZPA
