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The Prime Minister says she doesn't see how her presence at Ihumātao would help solve the current stand off.
Jacinda Ardern says her focus is on creating the environment to get to a solution, and that means making the most of the role the Kiingitanga can play in facilitating discussions.
She has been criticised for not visiting the land where Save Our Unique Landscape and its supporters are trying to stop a 480 home development.
She says the right to peaceful protest is important to New Zealanders, which is why she asked Fletcher to suspend work to allow negotiations between the competing interests.
"There are layers of complexity. There are treaty issues. There’s the role of mana whenua in the previous negotiations so it is a very difficult situation, but we are very keen to try to help facilitate a solution," Ms Ardern says.
The Government cannot tell the police what to do at an operational level, but she is confident they are trying to maintain a peaceful environment while upholding court orders.
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