Waitangi Day 2016 has been a day largely dominated by family, festivities and fun - a stark contrast to the past few days where political squabble has been the agenda.

Prime Minister John Key says a protest where a sex toy was thrown at one of his senior ministers at Waitangi was "appalling".

While Prime Minister John Key was busy dodging protests on Waitangi Day, Labour leader Andrew Little was having his foot gently bathed up at Waitangi.

High winds have prevented the Tino Rangatiratanga flag being raised on the Auckland Harbour Bridge this morning.

Tauranga's celestial navigator and voyaging waka skipper Jack Thatcher is due to take a prominent ceremonial role in New Zealand's nationhood celebrations at Waitangi today.

Steven Joyce copped a dildo to the face yesterday afternoon prompting a ribbing from international media.

Back in 1997, a young would-be rapper from Manurewa went to a Waitangi Day concert at Manukau City Centre's Civic Square in south Auckland.

Join us for all the action from the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.

The last thing we need this morning is another lament about protests at Waitangi and this will not be one, writes John Roughan.

So today, let's not allow the racism of the few to spoil a fantastic day for the many. Happy Waitangi Day, my fellow Kiwis, writes Lizzie Marvelly.

The Treaty of Waitangi is considered New Zealand's founding document, an agreement between the Crown and Maori, the country's indigenous people.

Protester Josie Butler threw a sex toy at Economic Minister Seven Joyce shouting "that's for raping our sovereignty".

Prime Minister John Key's decision to stay away was meant to be for the protection of his other ministers - little did he know he was putting Steven Joyce in the firing line of a flying pink dildo.

The Prime Minister will mark Waitangi Day by attending the NRL Auckland Nines tournament at Eden Park and other events in Auckland.

New Zealand will welcome 24 new citizens at Government House tomorrow.

COMMENT: The Prime Minister promised he would not quit Waitangi - and he has broken that promise. But here's the thing - nobody cares, writes Larry Williams.

A group of around 50 protesters were welcomed onto Te Tii Marae.

John Key has pulled out of attending Waitangi, saying "we are simply at a point though where I can't go, as the Prime Minister, onto a marae with a gagging order".

Five walks that highlight the historic significance of Waitangi and nearby areas

John Key says he wont go to Te Tii Marae tomorrow if he is under a new gagging order.

It has all worked out in the end and tomorrow Key will again walk down that aisle toward Ngapuhi with a chorus of protesters as guests, writes Claire Trevett.

To help you plan your day away from the politics here's a guide to what's going on at the Treaty Grounds tomorrow and Saturday.

Te Tii Marae elders say there is a risk of deliberate attempts by protesters to block John Key going on to the marae on Friday.

Ngapuhi co-chairman Rudy Taylor said he would be talking to marae trustees about increasing security on Friday and Saturday if necessary.

Fine weather is expected across many areas of the country this long weekend - but not where it matters the most.

This year's Waitangi "issue" has been selected. It has been determined that the TPP is the most pressing issue on the Maori agenda, writes Jon Stokes.

Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson says if John Key does not go to Te Tii Marae he will avoid it as well.

John Key should be welcomed at Te Tii Marae for Waitangi Day commemorations on Friday, despite widespread anger over the TPP deal, a Ngapuhi hapu leader says.