Prime Minister Christopher Luxon can expect a respectful welcome and engagement from the leaders attending today's hui in Rātana involving Māori leaders, despite obvious tensions over particular policies the coalition Government have introduced.

The most obvious sticking point promises to be the Treaty Principles Bill, which the Act Party pushed through in its coalition negotiations after its leader, David Seymour, was resolute in ensuring it was given a first reading.

Luxon has been clear from the start that his party will not be endorsing the bill beyond its first reading, his Māori Development Minister, Tama Potaka, spoke out on Tuesday to re-affirm the National Party's position on the matter.

But despite the tension over the proposed bill, today's meeting in Rātana - between Luxon, his deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and the Māori contingent - promises to be a respectful one according to political commentator Bridget Morten.

Talking to The Mike Hosking Breakfast this morning, Morten said the Rātana event always held a significant milestone in the annual political calendar - although this year feels a little different.

"It always signalled the start of the political year but it does feel with this Government coming back early and significant announcements already made, that it's lost a little bit of its status this year," she said.

"I do think it still holds its status as a first official hui, or discussion, held between the Crown and a large Māori gathering, and I think there will be tensions that are high - but it's always a respectful meeting."

Morten said the reception that Peters and Luxon will receive would be expected to be a positive one, they will be welcomed this afternoon as is appropriate - but there will be challenges brought to the table.

"Interestingly, David Seymour has chosen not to attend - he's the one driving this Treaty Principle Bill, the one that has many people, particularly Māori, exercised at the moment."

When asked if the coalition Government had dropped the ball by not responding to Māori complaints that the bill was anti-Māori, Morten was quick to explain the situation was a complex one.

She said that given the coalition was formed by three different parties, there had been different approaches to the bill from each party leader and their members.

"You saw Luxon in his post-cabinet yesterday being clear that there's no intention for David Seymour's bill to get out of the select committee process and into a second reading - I think he's doing it deliberately because he knows that that's not what they want to be talking about going ahead," she said.

"I think it's different...with Peters, who has his own treaty agenda which is that he wants to tidy up or assess all our legislation to make sure it's actually having the principles in statute in the way that is best serving us."

Morten said it was hard in a thirty-second sound-bite to break down complex issues like the bill, but that it was unlikely these complicated and controversial topics would lead to any leaders trying to hijack the hui.

She said the Rātana event would be a contrast to the traditional celebrations at Waitangi in a few weeks.

"There's often protest or people who looked to have things done [at Waitangi]," she said.

"My impression is that Rātana is a place where there's no hiding from that challenge and debate but it's done in a respectful manner, therefore their ability to hijack it with a personal agenda is very difficult."

Morten also acknowledged the presence of Te Pati Māori co-leader, Rawiri Waititi, who arrived in Rātana yesterday.

"The fact that they chose to come on that day earlier is a signal," she said.

"But I think that's also a signal that it's absolutely the right place that they should be engaging with the people. They do have some strong views, [but] I wouldn't say it's a hijacking of the celebrations."