Sophie Trigger: Senior Political Reporter on the preparations ahead of Waitangi Day

The Government's announced a funding boost for Māori economic development projects on the eve of Waitangi Day. 

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says $7.1 million will go towards three projects in Northland and Taranaki. 

He says a major infrastructure upgrade at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds is going well, and some new facilities will be open in time for this year's celebrations.  

Senior Political Reporter Sophie Trigger is on the ground and told Andrew Dickens it's set to be a busy day, with politicians arriving this morning.  

She says last year there was a separate powhiri for Government and Opposition, but they'll all be arriving side-by-side today. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Why Tungy commemorations have started. Remember it's a week long thing,

(00:02):
it's not just one day. They've already started that doing it. Politicians, ee,
leaders and fan No that there already. They've been arriving
ahead of the big day on Thursday tomorrow. News talks
here b political reporter Sophie Trigger has made the trip
up north and joins me.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
Now, Hello Sophie, Good morning, Andrew. How are you good?

Speaker 1 (00:19):
First time or what second time?

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Actually, Andrew, I was I was up here last year
as well.

Speaker 1 (00:25):
I was watching the telly last night. I have to
say the arrival of the Maori queen was quite some pageant.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Yeah, hundreds turned out to watch Andrew and the poor
fority yesterday welcomed the king to king Ey Tongue, including
the new monarch naw Way Hono. It's a Paul. It
was her first white tonguey as the Marti Queen after
the passing of her father, King tu Hatia last year.
And also in the contingent was to Pati Marti, which

(00:51):
arrived as part of the king E Tongue porphy this
year as it did last year, really consolidating that public
relationship between to Patimari and the King Etangue ahead of
the rest of the politicians arriving on the treaty grounds
later this morning. Yesterday we also had a number of
other groups welcomed in a separate porpity in the morning,

(01:11):
which included the White Toungui Tribunal, local Government New Zealand,
the judiciary, and the Diplomatic Corps, the head of which
is Mexican Ambassador Alfred or Porrez Bravo, who you may
have seen in the news a bit over the past week.

Speaker 1 (01:26):
Yes, he met with Winston Peters. They had lunch. Now
I'm sure they got on because you can't have lunch
with Winston Peters to not have a good time.

Speaker 2 (01:34):
Well, a meeting took place yesterday, that's correct, between Winston
Peters and the Mexican Ambassador. So this follows, of course,
comments made in the House last week by Peter's own colleague,
Minister Shane Jones, who called out send the Mexicans home,
directed towards Green MP's and it was described as xenophobic

(01:55):
and racist by the Green Party. So after this comment,
the Mexican embassy confirmed it was following up on the
matter through diplomatic channels. Now, Alfredo pres Bravo, as the
dean of the Diplomatic Corps, was part of this contingent.
Welcomed onto the grounds yesterday, and we spoke to the
ambassador after the porphity and he confirmed he was meeting

(02:15):
with Peter soon, but wouldn't really comment further on the
matter at all. He didn't say whether he would raise
the issue with Peters, but said that the interaction would
be friendly. So we don't yet know what exactly took
place in the meeting, but as you say, Peters has
shared a picture of the two of them yesterday, so
we'll have to wait to speak to him to find

(02:37):
out sort of what happened, if there were apologies offered,
if there was any sort of resolution to that.

Speaker 1 (02:43):
So I called this day white tonguey Eve as the
day before. What's happening today?

Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah, so this morning we will have all parties, that's
except for Tapatimari, which arrived yesterday welcomed onto the treaty grounds.
Last year we had a separate porphity for government and opposition,
but today they will all be arriving side by side.
Of course, a notable absence is the Prime Minister Chris Luxon.
He will be in the South Island ahead of spending

(03:09):
White Tangy in Akaroa, but will no doubt hear from
him at some point today as well. And considering the
Treaty Principles Bill is such a live issue oral submissions
beginning at Select Committee last week, it is expected to
result in some heated cottit or tomorrow in today sorry
in the speeches from both sides. It's also brought large

(03:32):
numbers of people to White Tangi again this year. White
Tangi leader's estimate it could be the same size or
even bigger than last year. And I've spoken to stoken
some people who were attending White Tangi for the first
time for the reason of protecting Tetiditi. So today is
going to bring actually to David Seymour face to face
with some of these critics for the first time this year,

(03:54):
considering he wasn't at the last and there are a
couple of weeks ago another forum in which the government
can hear from Marti and Ewee leaders on these issues.
We are also expecting the arrival of a toy to
Tetidity protest on the Treaty grounds, so thousands are expected
to be part of that and that's the group behind
last year's massive hikoi to Parliament in November.

Speaker 1 (04:18):
Very good, Sophie. Enjoy the day and I thank you
for more. From Early Edition with Ryan Bridge. Listen live
to News Talks it Be from five am weekdays, or
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