Prime Minister delivers Waitangi Day speech at Ōnuku Marae
Thursday, 6 February 2025
Prime Minster Christopher Luxon’s Waitangi Day speech was disrupted by protesters as he commemorated Waitangi Day with Ngāi Tahu at Ōnuku Marae near Akaroa.
Shouting and protesting could be heard at the start of Luxon’s speech, which became louder as Luxon spoke. One yelled at Luxon, accusing him of being a “genocide supporter”. One person was taken away by police.
Luxon stopped speaking, and then said, “sorry about that folks”.
Luxon, who attended the 2024 commemorations at Waitangi, near Paihia in Te Tai Tokerau, announced in December he would not attend that venue this year, saying “it has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different iwi”.
This year’s Waitangi Day comes as the Treaty’s principles are up for debate, as the justice committee listens to 80 hours of verbal submissions and reads more than 300,000 written views relating to the Treaty Principles Bill.
He began his speech by thanking Ōnuku Rūnanga and Ngāi Tahu for hosting at Ōnuku Marae, marking the 185th year of the signing of the Treaty.
He was there with the Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro and National Party colleagues.
“I want to take a moment to acknowledge the exceptional leaders we've lost this past year, including Kīngi Tūheitia, Tā (Bom) Gillies, Dame Tariana Turia, and, in recent days, Dame Iritana Tāwhiwhirangi,” he said.
“They all leave behind wonderful legacies – built on unity, strength, courage and the fortitude to seek better outcomes for their people.
“There are many, many things we can all learn from them.”
He acknowledged Ngāi Tahu’s journey, which following the signing of the Treaty by Ngāi Tahu chiefs at Ōnuku Marae, had been forged in adversity with “a century of broken promises”.
“Despite this, you never gave up. You continued to fight for recognition, justice, and the restoration of what was lost – to preserve your culture, language, and identity,” he said.
From the 1970s, its journey towards a Treaty settlement had begun.
Ōnuku Marae was where his predecessor as prime minister, Dame Jenny Shipley, delivered the Crown apology to Ngāi Tahu.
“Reconciliation has paved the way for the iwi's success, prosperity and cultural revitalisation.”
Luxon said the Treaty was central to the history of New Zealand and to its future.
The Government's role was to honour the Treaty, work in partnership with Māori, and ensure that the country continued in a spirit of Kotahitanga, he said.
Ngāi Tahu was now a “tremendous force” in New Zealand’s economy, “driving change across property, tourism, fisheries and agriculture”.
The success went beyond profit and was about creating a lasting value for whānau and the wider community. Other iwi and Māori were following similar paths across the country, he said.
“Ngāi Tahu's values and aspirations resonate with those of my government.”
Looking towards 2040, the bicentenary of the Treaty's signing, “we both want a better future for our children and grandchildren”, he said.
It meant ensuring access to quality health and education, and key was creating economic opportunities for all New Zealanders.
“Last year we broke the back on the cost of living by beating inflation, lowering interest rates, and delivering tax relief.
“This year is all about Going for Growth.”
While it could take pride in Ngāi Tahu's success – there was still work and challenges that lied ahead, he said.
One of the most pressing issues was how New Zealanders would continue to honour the promises of the Treaty in a way that brought people together.
“The Treaty Principles Bill is one such challenge,” he said.
National had made it clear that it would not support the Bill and “it will not become law”.