Jacinda Ardern's Waitangi visit a success, but next year is the year that counts says 1 NEWS political editor

"These commemorations are a chance for us to reflect on how we have done in the past year," Ms Ardern says.

The Prime Minister’s next trip to Waitangi may not be so smooth.

Jacinda Ardern will tick this year off as a success.

Yes, she had the mind blank about articles in the treaty and was called out for it by Ngāpuhi's Sonny Tau (at the big ceremonial dawn service on Waitangi Day, no less) but overall it was pretty good.

This is the second time Jacinda Ardern has been at Waitangi on our national day as Prime Minister.

Last year she was a new leader. This year she’s splashed the cash from the Provincial Growth Fund and made big promises to do more for Māori with unemployment and imprisonment rates.

Regardless of political persuasion, the PM believes that they all need to have an aspiration for equality for all New Zealanders.

But next year is election year and that’s when it matters the most. If people think she hasn’t delivered there will be more fierce debate and challenges to what she’s saying.

There has been an effort over the past two years to separate the two marae at Waitangi.

The ceremonial side of things has taken place at the beautiful upper marae, Te Whare Runanga, on the treaty grounds overlooking the water.

Te Tii is the lower marae and that was reserved for Don Brash and Bishop Brian Tamaki this year.

The PM did answer with a little help from colleagues and says she expects the Treaty to be taught in schools.

It is surrounded by tents for debating and stalls selling food and drink. Te Tii is where John Key had the scuffle with protesters and where mud was thrown at Don Brash, but the Prime Minister hasn’t been there for the last two years.

John Key and Bill English as Prime Ministers said “no thanks” for the last few years and stayed away.

The Prime Minister balanced that by coming to Waitangi for several days instead of just driving in and out.

It’ll be interesting to see whether this separation keeps going in order to keep that sense of calm or whether the pressure will go on the Prime Minister to go back to Te Tii next year.

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