Tama toa rangatahi prepare to welcome the government to the Treaty Grounds. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The coalition government's relationship with Māori has dominated headlines throughout 2024.
Discussions and protests ratcheted up in intensity during a three-week period in January and February.
First, Kiingi Tuheitia called for a national hui to discuss Māori unity and government policy.
That rolled into the annual celebrations at Rātana - traditionally seen as the beginning of the political year - and [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/507378/ratana-celebrations-begin-discussions-from-hui-aa-motu-expected-to-continue
a rare chance for Māori to put their concerns directly to politicians].
But even the 10,000 people who rolled into Ngāruawāhia for hui aa motu could not compare to the tens of thousands of people who arrived in Waitangi in the lead-up to Waitangi - there to celebrate the anniversary of the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and make their voices heard.
Traffic backed up for kilometres, and people slept in tents and in their cars just to be there.
4 February: Kotahitanga in action
The Kiingitanga arrived at Waitangi on 4 February. Kiingi Tuheitia was not a regular attendee of Waitangi celebrations, so his attendance was a strong signal of kotahitanga (unity).
To hammer that home, he was accompanied by leaders from across Māoridom, including representatives from Rātana, Parihaka and Te Pāti Māori.
The wero (challenge) from tangata whenua as a delegation including representatives from Kīngitanga, Rātana, Parihaka and Te Pāti Māori are welcomed on to Te Whare Rūnanga at the Treaty grounds. Photo: RNZ/ Angus Dreaver
About 400 manuhiri assembling for the pōwhiri. Traditionally manuhiri would form a column to be welcomed for the pōwhiri, but with Kiingi Tuheitia at the centre, the manuhiri fans out in a display of kotahitanga. Photo: RNZ/ Angus Dreaver
Tangata whenua perform the haka pōwhiri with Te Whare Rūnanga in the background. Photo: RNZ/ Angus Dreaver
Kiingi Tuheitia (centre) sitting at the mahau of Te Whare Rūnanga with Te Makau Ariki Atawhai (right) beside him. Photo: RNZ/ Angus Dreaver
Spectators get the best vantage point for the pōwhiri. Photo: RNZ/ Angus Dreaver
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi (centre), Te Pāti Māori made the decision to arrive at Waitangi with Māori leaders rather than with the other opposition parties. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
5 February: A fiery crucible
Tame Iti brought the theatrics on the morning of 5 February. With his haki ātea or white flags behind him, he arrived at the Treaty Grounds in a display that was part pōwhiri, part theatre.
Later in the day, the heat was turned up as members of the government, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, arrived.
The crowd let their feelings be known, openly singing over and booing some speeches.
Tame Iti asked supporters to come to Waitangi dressed in white and with white flags. Photo: RNZ / Pokere Paewai
Iti crosses the Treaty Grounds. He gifted a sculpture named Ngā Tamatoa to Waitangi, named after the activist group which operated from the 1970s. Iti reunited with many of the members of Ngā Tamatoa at Waitangi. Photo: RNZ / ANNEKE SMITH
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, ACT leader David Seymour and NZ First leader Winston Peters prepare to be welcomed on to the Treaty Grounds. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Seymour accepts the taki from the kaiwero. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Crowds surround the Whare Rūnanga to listen to speeches. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Hone Harawira addresses the government leaders, saying "you and your shitty ass bill are going down the toilet" - referring to Seymour and the Treaty Principles Bill. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Peters is booed by the crowd at Waitangi. In response, he tells them to "get an education!" Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The crowd sings over David Seymour's speech, telling him "whakarongo, e noho!" (Sit down, listen) Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
While the heat is turned up on politicians, tamariki cool off by doing bombs off the Waitangi bridge - a time-honoured Waitangi tradition. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
6 February: Sunrise
Waitangi Day began with the traditional dawn service and a sunrise over the waters of Pēwhairangi, the Bay of Islands.
It was a day of tradition as a fleet of waka taua paddled down the Waitangi River, under the bridge and to the beach where Governor William Hobson landed in 1840.
A hīkoi of around 1000 people also marched across the same bridge onto the Treaty Grounds, after setting of from Cape Reinga days before.
Ngāpuhi kaumātua Hone Sadler (in white) leads Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro onto the Treaty Grounds for the dawn service. Photo: RNZ
Thousands of people gather around te Whare Rūnanga for the dawn service. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Traffic backs up for kilometres on the back road between Waitangi and Haruru Falls. Some prominent guests have to find their own way to the Treaty Grounds, including New Zealand First MP Shane Jones, who arrives by boat. Photo: RNZ
The sun rises over the Treaty Grounds in Waitangi on Waitangi Day. Photo: RNZ
The sun rises over the Bay of Islands. Photo: RNZ
A waka passes beneath the bridge leading to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Crowds on Waitangi Bridge watching the waka parade. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
A young kaihoe (paddler) on Tii Beach. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Hundreds of people standing on the beach, some wading into the water to greet the kaihoe in the waka parade. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The hīkoi crossing Waitangi Bridge. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Hīkoi organiser Rueben Taipari addresses the crowds gathered at the Whare Rūnanga. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The hīkoi arrives at Te Whare Rūnanga at the Treaty Grounds. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
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