Key denies breaking Waitangi promise

John Key
John Key
Prime Minister John Key denies he broke a long-standing promise by not attending events in Waitangi this year.

Mr Key chose to spend Waitangi Day in Auckland because he was concerned he would be blocked from discussing politics at Te Tii Marae in Waitangi.

When he was leader of the Opposition, Mr Key said he would go to Waitangi every year if he became prime minister.

He made the commitment in 2007 after Helen Clark stopped going to annual commemorations at Te Tii Marae.

Mr Key told Radio New Zealand this morning he did not think he had gone against this commitment by staying away this year.

"Under conditions where there is equity and fairness, you wouldn't go there if you can't speak," he said.

He said his speaking rights were taken away because claims by marae elders that the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) was bad for Maori did not stack up.

''... that the Treaty is completely excluded and the only benefits are positive. They know that undercuts their argument," he told Radio New Zealand.

Te Tii trustees originally invited Mr Key to attend with no limitations, but then sent a second letter revoking this invitation.

Mr Key decided not to attend after failing to get an assurance that he could speak freely at the marae.

"It is a ridiculous scenario," he said. "You can't have a situation where politicians go to the lower marae, like we go to marae all around the country as part of the ongoing engagement around the Treaty where there is an exchange of dialogue and views.

"That's what it is -- a meeting house to talk about issues and to give a perspective."

Mr Key also expressed safety concerns, saying there could be "massive, violent riots" if he had spoken about the TPP.

"[Ngapuhi elder] Kingi [Taurua] seemed to be going around saying that's his expectation," he said.

Labour leader Andrew Little criticised Mr Key for not going to Waitangi and has made a similar pledge to attend every year if he became leader of the country.

- Isaac Davison of the New Zealand Herald