New Zealand First minister Shane Jones says future government funding for the Waitangi National Trust shouldn’t be given unless they “buck their ideas up” after what he described as a “circus” pōwhiri for Parliament.

National minister Paul Goldsmith says he doesn’t support the idea of restricting funding based on such a premise, while Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson described it as an “abuse of power” but didn’t call for Jones’ sacking.

Jones, the Minister for Regional Development and a known advocate for Northland, made the comments to journalists after he and other Parliamentarians were welcomed on to the Treaty Grounds at Waitangi – the group including Act leader David Seymour, who had his microphone taken from him twice by one Northland Māori leader during his speech.

Twice the microphone was returned but even so, Seymour’s address incited significant protest from those in the crowd, many of whom had turned their back on Seymour as he spoke.

Speaking after the pōwhiri, Jones said the actions of the Ngāpuhi leaders had given him “severe reservations of the whole architecture of Waitangi Day” and said he would be taking the matter to his party caucus to ensure future pōwhiri were not a “circus”.

Shane Jones ushering Act leader David Seymour forward during the pōwhiri. Photo / Dean Purcell

Asked how he would do this, Jones referenced the recent $10 million the Government gave the Waitangi National Trust, which cares for the Treaty Grounds and organises the Waitangi festivities, for infrastructure upgrades.

“Obviously, this is an independent body, but I just gave them $10 million so if you want to take the money, you take the responsibility of looking after your manuhiri [visitors].

“There’s an expectation that when the manuhiri come to an area like this, they’re not going to come back if they’re mistreated.

“Obviously the money’s already been allocated, but if they don’t buck their ideas up, don’t look to central Government to fund an organisation that’s independent and can’t raise enough revenue to look after itself.

“I‘ve certainly lost my zest in pushing any future grants forward unless they buck their ideas up and look after their manuhiri.”

More to come