Hera Hemoata Waipouri-Green shares her story
The Waka Hourua Festival was hosted in the South Island for the first time.
The hui will bring together iwi leaders from across Aotearoa to deliberate on issues affecting Māori and the wider nation.
In 1864, about 300 Māori defended the site from more than 1000 invading British soldiers.
"As you'd expect, we're pretty excited and grateful."
Tuesday's scenes at Waitangi evoked memories of the Ngā Tamatoa Māori protests of the 1970s.
Te Pati Māori chose not to be part of the Opposition delegation welcomed on Saturday.
It's the first hui since last year's election and a chance for the forum to consolidate.
One expert in the Treaty admits he's taken aback by how swiftly things have developed in the last six months.