Party at Shane’s place

Up to 40 diplomats from Wellington and Canberra made the trek last night to the annual party of fellow diplomat Shane Jones and his fiancee Dot Pumipi in Kerikeri — but they almost didn’t make it.

It is understood the diplomats’ plans were put on ice a few days ago because of incorrect speculation that at the party, Jones would announce his intentions to join New Zealand First after his term as a roving Pacific Ambassador ends in May.

But it was never Jones’ intention to make any announcement while still a diplomat.

Jones said the party had become something of an institution around Waitangi.

“It has got a particular piquancy this year because it is a happy couple recently engaged — domestically that is,” Jones told the Herald on Sunday.

“No announcements of a political engagement nature tonight or in the short term or in the foreseeable future.”

Meanwhile Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy has made her first visit in the role to Te Tii Marae ahead of Waitangi Day, but disappointed spectators missed out.

Prominent Maori advocate Willie Jackson labelled the decision to not only bar media from attending the official powhiri but to block public views of the marae as “absolute bloody nonsense”.

Marae representatives put large tarpaulins across gaps in the hedge to prevent those outside, including media, from seeing anything.

Mr Jackson, who is expected to announce his candidacy for Labour in the September election on Sunday, said it was such an important day that things had to be done a lot better.

Media organisations were offered exclusive broadcasting rights for $10,000. That offer was not taken up.