No Waitangi No Cry: Bill English to attend reggae concert

Prime Minister Bill English will get his groove on at Hoani Waititi Marae (Newshub.)
The Prime Minister will get his groove on at Hoani Waititi Marae (Digitally altered image.)

Prime Minister Bill English will go to a reggae concert to celebrate Waitangi Day.

Newshub can reveal Mr English will attend the concert headed by reggae greats Black Slate from the United Kingdom and New Zealand’s Katchafire at the free concert at west Auckland's Hoani Waititi marae.

One of Black Slate's biggest hits was the song 'Amigo', which has the lyrics 'Leave it to Jah and he will guide you on' - a reference to Jah, the Rastafarian God.

Katchafire's hits include 'Collie Herb Man' which has the lyrics: 'I'm got some good karma, some good marijuana'. 

The concert also features The Royal Family dance crew, headed by Parris Goebel who choreographs Justin Bieber's music videos.

Goebel set up Beiber's dancing on the song 'Sorry'.

Organised by the Waiperiera Trust, it is a 'smoke-free, drug-free, alcohol-free and violence-free' day.

Mr English has chosen the concert over the traditional visit to Waitangi, because of ongoing disagreement about speaking rights.

At his post-Cabinet press conference on Tuesday, Mr English says he hadn't known it was a reggae concert, but he was told the music content was "varied".

Newshub.