KEY POINTS:
It has been John Key's Waitangi so far today, not Helen Clark's who is just about to land in the Far North.
Key was full of beans after being welcomed on to Te Tii Marae this morning hand in hand with Titewhai Harawira, along with the Greens.
By the time
I arrived at midday he had emerged from the cuppa-tea- marquee and was engrossed in amicable conversation with Maori Party MP Hone Harawira. You can spot Hone at 5000 paces in his signature tropical red shirt and khaki trousers.
I followed him to the Te Tai Tokerau iwi radio station set up in a yellow caravan to listen in on his interview with Ikanui Kingiwaiaua. I was interested in whether he would adjust his message or tone according to the audience. He didn't.
He was pretty firm on the Foreshore and Seabed Act, in as much as there would be no holus bolus repeal. But he rather lamely said it was difficult to do with anything from the Opposition.
What he really meant was there is no reason for National to do anthing unless it is forced to in negotiations with the Maori Party after the next election.
I ran into Naapi Waaka at the iwi caravan and reintroduced myself. Rev Waaka was a regular visitor to my family home in Hawera as a child so seeing him again was a real treat.
Key is about to go "walk-about" on the camping ground next to the marae, to meet and greet complete strangers - good training for election year.
He is supported here at Waitangi by MPs Georgina te HeuHeu, Tau Henare, Wayne Mapp, John Carter, Anne Tolley and Chris Finlayson.
I'm writing this at the Copthorne Waitangi, the old Tourist Hotel Corporation resort, the old Quality Inn.
Everybody is here: Titewhai has just finished having lunch with Naida Glavish. The chief Justice Dame Sian Elias and her husband Hugh Fletcher arrived at lunchtime with chief Maori Court land Judge Joe Williams. She makes a personal pilgrimage here every year.
Broadcaster and journalist Derek Fox - who is seeking the Maori Party nomination to run again Parekura Horomia in Ikaroa Rawhiti - has just finished chairing a Te Puni Korkiri seminar here at the hotel.
Winston Peters hasn't shown yet but his foreign guest has: Eni Faleomavaega is the delegated senator in the US senate for American Samoa. He will be hosted at Waitangi by Winston. Tuku's here, the chief is here, Tumu te Heu Heu.
The only person not here is Tame Iti - yet - and Helen Clark.
I'm off to cover Clark's arrival at Karetu marae in half an hour.
