The Governor General, Sir Jerry Mateparae has been urged to support and acknowledge that Māori never ceded sovereignty when signing the Treaty of Waitangi.
Kaumatua of Te Tii Marae, Kingi Taurua spoke to the Governor General this morning in the whare saying Sir Jerry Mateparae held a very important role for Māori and urged him to remain a strong representative and be a 'father' for his people in his role.
The Governor General told those gathered in Te Tiriti o Waitangi house this morning that he fully understood some peoples frustration as he was a Māori attending celebrations as a representative of the Crown. However he went on to say that he hoped settlements for all Iwi would progress well and that Ngāpuhi could move forward with Treaty Settlement negotiations.
Mr Taurua also expressed his frustration at the fact that separate celebrations were being held in Hokianga and asked the Governor General to take this message to Hokianga when he attends celebrations at Mangungu Mission House later today.
He says, “They should be here, everywhere else signed but this is the place where they talked about it. This is where Waitangi was born, this is where we should be all meeting not in Hokianga, not in Kaitaia, not anywhere else and you tell them what we said, hoki mai ki konei.”
An impressive and peaceful welcome awaited Sir Jerry Mateparae and his entourage.
This afternoon a pōhiri will be held for the Māori Womens Welfare League, the Waitangi National Trust Board, Ngā Hāhi Katoa, Iwi Leaders and the New Zealand Māori Council.