This year's record-breaking Waitangi celebrations drew 80,000 people to the Treaty grounds over four days, half that on Waitangi Day alone.

"They can feel a movement happening and they want to be part of it" - Shannon Haunui-Thompson

This year's record-breaking Waitangi celebrations drew 80,000 people to the Treaty grounds over four days, half that on Waitangi Day alone.

With the dust settling on the event's biggest turnout in decades, the sense of unity and anger among many Māori will linger long after the Treaty Principles legislation is gone.

Listen to the full podcast

The message of kotahitanga, unity, was sounded with the Kiingitanga's call for a national hui to take place at Turangawaewae, with discussions continuing into the annual Rātana celebrations and on to Waitangi.

RNZ's Tumu Māori Shannon Haunui-Thompson (Ngāpuhi) grew up coming to Waitangi every year and remembers the free train rides, swimming at the beach and the many hikoi across the bridge - people carrying flags and placards.

A hikoi arrives at the Treaty Grounds in Waitangi for the 2024 celebrations.

She says while that hasn't changed, she has never seen the like of what was on show at this year's Waitangi as a response to the coalition government, which is perceived as being anti-Māori.

"When someone kind of threatens to change something that is fundamentally a founding document not just of our country but of our people, there was a true movement - I can feel and see it, physically see it, when our leaders are leading us - and you can see people want to be part of that," she says.

"When leaders like Kiingi Tuuheitia, the Rātana tumuaki, iwi leaders, are all physically standing in line together like a strong, united front, why wouldn't you follow that?

"Accommodation's full. All the camping grounds are full. So people have literally come because they want to be here, be part of this movement, be part of this kotahitanga and support that movement - so they're sleeping in their cars on the side of the road."

Waitangi Day traffic at this year's commemorations…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details