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Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua says its decision to welcome trade ministers coming to Auckland to sign the Trans Pacific Trade Agreement can't be seen as a sign of support for the 12-country trade pact.
Spokesman Tame te Rangi says neither is it a criticism of Ngati Whatua Orakei, which refused to powhiri the manuhiri because of its concerns the TPPA would undermine the crown's ability of uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
He says the runanga represents the wider iwi.
"The stance we are taking is the pattern laid down by our forebears of affroding dignitaries, particularly from another country and from outside of the rohe of Ngati Whatua, the dignity of a welcome," Mr Te Rangi says.
He says the time taken to negotiate the TPPA is in sharp contrast to the decades Ngati Whatua has been negotiating with the corwn about its treaty rights.
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