February 15, 2016
Attack on Te Tii trustees unjustified
Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis says Ngapuhi needs to wananga about alternatives to the Waitangi welcomes, rather than wait for next Waitangi Day.
Mr Davis was at the controversial hui that decided to refuse the Prime Minister a powhiri, before the marae trustees overruled the vote and issued a invitation to John Key.
In the following confusion Mr Key turned down the invite, calling the trustees Mickey Mouse.
Mr Davis, who was in favour of the PM being welcomed to Waitangi, says that was unfair to the trustees.
"They made decisions under pressure. They are pensioners, they are old folk, and I was disappointed John Key publicly called them Mickey Mouse. I thought John Key, you have your ministers, you have your spin doctors and advisors behind you, you have all these people people telling you what to think and what to say. Don't go picking on the pensioners, have that quiet conversation when the dust is settled," he says.
Mr Davis says the official powhiri could be moved to some other marae or the Hokianga, or it could be treated as a joint activity where the crown and Ngapuhi welcome manuhiri together.
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