Key had vowed that the attack would not stop him returning to Waitangi. Two Far North men, aged 33 and 19, were later remanded on bail after appearing in Kaikohe District Court facing a joint charge of assault.
At the historic Whare Rununga meeting house on the Treaty House grounds Key led a congregation of about 1,500 people in a prayer as the skies lightened over Waitangi.
It was the fist time in a decade a National prime minister had been at the service. Labor Prime Minister Helen Clark consistently refused to attend, saying she was “not a morning person.”
Security was tight for Key and for the Maori King Tuheitia in the first visit to the Treaty of Waitangi commemorations by a Maori king for many years.
Soon after the congregation was told the service was not a political service and that political arguments should stay at the lower Te Tii marae, Key led the prayer.
“As we gather here this morning on this most historic of sites at dawn, we can give thanks. We give thanks to the fact that our country is still one of the most amazing places in the world to live, where our oceans are teeming with fish, where our land is arable and can deliver for our people, where we see opportunities for all New Zealanders and where we can live in peace,” Key said.
“We also give thanks for those who came and signed the treaty 169 years ago, those iwi leaders who showed two of the most important human characteristics — hope and courage,” he said.
“The hope that they could deliver on the promise of New Zealand, the belief that New Zealand could go forward – two people, shared beliefs, shared values – and the courage to take a step that they couldn’t be sure would be right but that they hoped would deliver on the promise of our land.”
After the service Key told the media his attendance at the service was very important.
“It is the birth place of the nation. It’s a special place for New Zealand and this is just another step in the progression towards racial harmony in New Zealand,” he said.
During the service a Ngapuhi church leader referred to the Treaty of Waitangi not being signed at Waitangi.
“There is always a range of views. That is one view that is held by Ngapuhi, that it wasn’t signed in English, that it was signed in Maori,” Key said.
He said the commemorations had a great festival atmosphere and 70,000 people were expected over the two days.
