The Kīngitanga is convening a national hui to "unify the nation" in the face of the new Government's Treaty policies, which the movement says could "undermine decades of hard-fought justice and equality".
It comes just a day after thousands participated in protests across New Zealand against the Coalition Government, which Te Pāti Māori believes is mounting an "assault on Tangata Whenua and Te Tiriti o Waitangi".
That's been dismissed by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who says his Government wants to see Māori do better under his Government than they did under Labour.
A statement from the Kīngitanga released on Wednesday morning said Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII was calling for a national hui next year to "unify the nation and ensure all voices are heard when holding the new Coalition Government to account".
It said senior Māori leaders had agreed the Crown "must be a responsible Treaty Partner and unify, not divide the nation.
"Kiingi Tuheitia received a very clear message from many Rangatira across the motu last weekend, after celebrating the 165th anniversary of the birth of the Kiingitanga movement. Therefore, Te Paki o Matariki (a Royal Proclamation) has been issued calling for the national hui."
The proclamation says many Māori "are concerned about the plans of the new Coalition Government".
"Our most effective response will come from working together. After consulting with many Rangatira from across the motu, the Kiingitanga has decided to convene a National Hui. This Hui will provide a space for koorero and waananga guided by our tikanga.
"It will be a platform not only for our voices to be heard but also our rangatahi to have a say in shaping a united way forward. It will also serve as an opportunity for us to assert our Mana Motuhake, as we make decisions for our future."
The national hui will be held at Turangawaewae Marae on January 20 and Kiingi Tuheitia then intends to carry to mauri – or life spark or essence – of the hui to the subsequent Ratana and Waitangi Day celebrations.
Kīngitanga Chief of Staff Ngira Simmonds said there had been "unhelpful" and "divisive" rhetoric during the election campaign and now "strong opposition" to Government statements on the Treaty of Waitangi that "could undermine decades of hard-fought justice and equality for our nation."
"Now is the time for Kotahitanga and focusing on what we have in common," he said.
"The purpose of this national hui is for Te Iwi Maaori to gather in our place, with our tikanga, to koorero and waananga our future. All are welcome to this meeting – it will be a safe place where the many voices of Te Iwi Maaori can come together: tamariki, rangatahi, pakeke and kaumaatua."
The new Coalition Government has a number of policies that directly affect Maori and the implementation of the Treaty Principles.
The National agreement with ACT includes introducing a Treaty Principles Bill and supporting it through to a Select Committee. A referendum that ACT campaigned on isn't explicitly included in the deal. However, it could possibly come about as a result of the legislative process. National has previously opposed it.
The deal between National and New Zealand First includes reviewing all legislation that includes "the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi" and replacing any such references with "specific words relating to the relevance and application of the Treaty or repeal the references".
Other policies that have angered opposition parties include disestablishing the Māori Health Authority and repealing some smokefree legislation.
Just a week into the Coalition Government's reign, its policies have already attracted widespread protest.
On Tuesday, Te Pāti Māori supported a 'nationwide action day' where people gathered at locations across New Zealand in opposition to the new Government's plans. Thousands turned out, including at Parliament, and there were some traffic disruptions as a result.
"This is about our activation, this is about our people coming together, this is about Aotearoa coming together," the party's co-leader Rawiri Waititi told AM.
"We don't need divisive policies, what we need is progressive policies. Policies that lift people out from poverty, policies that allow people to be able to live with some dignity. It's about closing the mortality rates between Māori and non-Māori. It's about ensuring that we're not incarcerating more of our people.
"This is about us standing up to say there is a better way and Aotearoa is ready for an Aotearoa Hou."
Prime Minister Luxon said his Government wanted to see improved outcomes for Māori.
Speaking at his post-Cabinet press conference on Monday, he said Māori hadn't done well under Labour.
"We've seen you know, economically Māori have been really challenged by a cost of living crisis that has got out of control. We've seen Māori in terms of participation on welfare, on social statehouse waitlists, education, health care, all of those things have gone backwards. We are determined as a Government, as a Coalition Government, to improve outcomes for Māori and non-Maori."
He didn't believe there would be waves of protest over the next three years.
"I think we're going to demonstrate to Māori and non-Māori across New Zealand that we are focused on outcomes."
Last month, Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the new Government would take New Zealand back by three or four decades on Māori issues.
"Christopher Luxon has clearly made big concessions to appease his coalition partners, including a bizarre job sharing arrangement around the deputy leadership and embarking on a divisive approach to Māori-Crown relations."
In a statement on Tuesday morning, ACT leader David Seymour said the protests showed Te Pāti Māori was unhappy with the election result.
"It's a sad day when a political party is protesting equal rights. They’re on the wrong side of history. New Zealanders want a respectful debate on the constitutional future of our country and that's what they've voted for.
"ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill and proposed referendum are needed to ensure a healthy debate on whether our future lies with co-government and different rights based on ancestry, or whether we want to be a modern, multi-ethnic liberal democracy where every New Zealander has the same rights."
