Security has been tightened for the Prime Minister's arrival at Waitangi's Lower Marae on Friday morning. 
The marae grounds are full of people from all over New Zealand, camping there for the duration of the celebrations.
Maori Warden Margaret Thomas, from Nelson, is at her first Waitangi Day.
She says there are teams of Maori Wardens working 24 hours a day, in shifts.
There is no pre-planning of about where they will patrol and often decisions are last-minute, depending on what happens.
Thomas says they are not expecting any trouble and their job is to support and work with other security and the police.
As the Prime Minister is escorted onto the lower marae he will be hoping it is not a repeat of last year's performance.
John Key had a broken arm but it did not stop the nephews of Hone Harawira, one of them with the tino rangatiratanga flag draped over his arm flag, roughing him up.
The irony was that it was the assailants' great aunt and Hone Harawira's mum, Titiwhai Harawira, who apologised to Key and gently guided him onto the marae with his good arm.
Governor General
The Governor General says his attendance on Saturday at a South Island marae is about recognising the Treaty of Waitangi was signed at many different places.
Sir Anand Satyanand will deliver his annual Waitangi Day address in Akaroa, the first time in a location other than Government House in Auckland or Wellington.
He says the Treaty was signed at many places around New Zealand but Onuku Marae is a special place for Ngai Tahu.
Sir Anand says he is delighted to finally be able to accept the tribe's long-standing invitation to join their Waitangi Day celebrations.
Source: TVNZ
