The Prime Minister has delivered her fourth speech from the mahau at Waitangi today, acknowledging the government's challenges of the past year but also using the forum to announce a new public holiday.
All of the political parties were represented at Te Whare Rūnanga on the treaty grounds, except for the Māori Party which decided not to come following the recent case of Covid-19 in Northland.
Acknowledging the entrenched challenges still facing Māori, Jacinda Ardern said Labour had made some progress - citing Ihumātao and Oranga Tamariki.
She also confirmed June 24 next year as the date of the first Matariki public holiday.
RNZ political editor Jane Patterson was there and filed this report.
