Key arrives at marae amid tension

Prime Minister John Key made it safely onto Te Tii Marae this morning after a tense stand-off over who should escort him.

After lengthy negotiations, Titewhai Harawira managed to get Mr Key's left hand first, and other kuia Naida Glavish and Ani Taurua - the marae's choice of escort - stood in a line alongside her.

There was some yelling - one man called out "if you don't own it, you can't sell it."

But the most upset was about Mrs Harawira escorting the Prime Minister - one man yelling out "tikanga o Te Tii" to protest it.

As the time drew near for Mr Key to arrive at the marae this morning, Mrs Harawira could be seen standing at one side of the entrance surrounded by family members and with top Maori policeman Superintendent Wally Haumaha in attendance, and Mrs Taurua standing some distance away on the other side.

Mr Haumaha could be heard urging Mrs Harawira's daughter Hinewhare to step to one side at one point, saying "no violence, no violence we are not going to put the Prime Minister in this position."

Mrs Harawira was flanked by family, including Hinewhare and one of her sons.

As the stand-off between the two kuia continued, onlookers also took sides - some supporting Mrs Taurua's claim by calling out "Kia Kaha aunty."

The Herald understands that police told the Harawira family they were holding the whole country to ransom.

At one point marae kaumatua Kingi Taurua pointed at the Harawira group and began shouting at them.

The kuia in the stand-off appeared to have reached a deal to share the job after some tension.

The impasse was broken only after a further testy exchange when Mr Taurua proposed a compromise, drawing a stiff rebuke from Mrs Harawira of "no Kingi, get out" as the women began singing to drown him out.

After a further attempt. Mr Taurua's patience snapped and he told Mrs Harawira to "shut your bloody mouth."

Mana Party leader Hone Harawira's wife Hilda Halkyard-Harawira told the Herald the women had sorted it, as they should. "It's their business".

As Mr Key was escorted on, Mrs Harawira was next to him and Mrs Taurua was close by.

Someone close to the kuia said: "Hinewhare stop pushing me", to Mrs Harawira's daughter.

- Claire Trevett and Yvonne Tahana of the New Zealand Herald