Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will spend Waitangi Day at Ōnuku Marae in Akaroa with Ngāi Tahu.

Luxon announced late last year that he wouldn’t attend annual celebrations in Waitangi, saying he instead intended to take part in festivities elsewhere.

While he didn’t specify at the time where that would be, it was confirmed on Monday that Luxon will at Ōnuku Marae in Akaroa alongside other dignitaries, including the Governor-General.

A statement from Ngāi Tahu said hundreds of people were expected to attend the event.

“This is a significant event for our hapū and iwi and we’re looking forward to opening our whare to the community to commemorate this important day,” said Ōnuku Rūnangachairman Rik Tainui.

“We are pleased that the Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro and the Prime Minister Rt Hon Christopher Luxon have accepted our invitation.”

The statement said Ōnuku holds “profound historical and cultural significance” for Ngāi Tahu as it was at Ōnuku on May 30, 1840 that Ngāi Tahu takiwā first signed TeTiriti o Waitangi. In 1998, the Crown apologised to the iwi for breaches of TeTiriti at the same location.

“Generations of whānau have lived and gathered here at Ōnuku and Takapūneke, which are significant locations in our nation’s history and identity. To this day, Ōnuku is where we come together to discuss and advance key tribal matters.”

“In 1820 Takapūneke was a thriving commercial trading post of national significance, operated by Ngāi Tahu. In 1830 our whānau living at Takapūneke were tragically massacred by a rival tribe supported by British Captain John Stewart on the Brig Elizabeth. It marked the beginning of British involvement in Māori tribal affairs and was a catalyst to the writing and signing of TeTiriti ten years later.”

Tainui said Waitangi Day provided an opportunity to reflect on shared history, celebrate “Ngāi Tahu rangatiratanga as recognised in Te Tiriti, showcase our famous manākitanga and strengthen the relationships between tangata whenua and the Crown, for the benefit of all our communities in New Zealand”.

The event will be open to the public and begin with a pōwhiri at 9am to welcome manuhiri (guests).

Prime Ministers usually – but not always – attend Waitangi on the national day, but Luxon has always said it was his intention to sometimes spend the day elsewhere. Other senior National MPs will be in Waitangi this week, as will leaders of other political parties.

Luxon’s decision to be elsewhere was criticised, including by Waitangi National Trust chair Pita Tipene.

“I’mvery disappointed. I do understand other iwi have invited him, he will still send senior Cabinet ministers to Waitangi to be part of the commemorations but, yeah, we as a board and the Waitangi National Trust are always looking to the kāwanatanga [Government] to front up.”

TePāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said in December that Luxon’s decision was “cowardly” and a “gutless decision”.

She said he should “front up” on New Zealand’s national day, given his Government had committed to partial support of the Treaty Principles Bill as well as repealing other legislation concerning Māori.

Ngarewa-Packer felt the decision indicated Luxon either didn’t want to face the consequences of his Government’s decisions or he didn’t care about Māori opposition to those policies.

Senior Labour MP Willie Jackson said at the time he was sad to hear Luxon would be absent at Waitangi.

“Waitangi expects it, teao Māori expects it a when you’ve had a Government that has prioritised taking away rights from Māori, then you should front at Waitangi.”

While acknowledging some Prime Ministers had not attended Waitangi in the past, Jackson said that changed when celebrations were moved to the upper marae.

“[Luxon] clearly can’t find it in himself to front Māoridom, and that’s a shame because that’s the nation on show, that’s where all our iwi leaders are and they’ll be rightly very, very disappointed as we are.”

Jamie Ensor is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team based at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub Press Gallery office.