The debate around the planned Budget Day protest is ongoing with commenters clashing over it on AM on Wednesday.
Debate around the protests, which are planned across the country, erupted on Tuesday with politicians from across the board weighing in.
The Coalition Government is gearing up to release its first Budget on Thursday and there are calls for Māori to take action on the same day.
The protest was organised by Toitū Te Tiriti and is being supported by Te Pāti Māori and its co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.
When asked about the protest, Waititi said: "It's now time for us to step comfortably into our rangatiratanga and to not give too much to this Pakeha Government with their Pakeha Budget for their Pakeha economy".
Leader of the Opposition Chris Hipkins has also offered his support, saying he encourages people to use their right to free speech as long as they follow the rules.
But Prime Minister Christopher Luxon suggested the protests might be "illegal" and added, "that's what weekends are for".
NZ First's Shane Jones is also against the protests, which he said are "mobilising a militia of scallywags" and pushing people towards the "lunatic fringe".
Chair of Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency Merepeka Raukawa-Tait and former Auckland Business Chamber CEO Michael Barnett shared their very different views on the day of action on AM on Wednesday.
While Raukawa-Tait supported the protests, Barnett said they were making things about race when it should be about solutions.
Raukawa-Tait, who is a former Te Pāti Māori candidate, said Waititi's stance is hardly surprising and accused coalition parties NZ First and ACT of creating the division.
"It really is the coalition minor parties that are driving some of the dissension that we are now seeing. So, it's not surprising that the Māori Party would respond because Māori are seeing their culture devalued, their language devalued, the treaty is coming under question and under fire. And if that's happened since this government has been in then why would Māori think there's going to be anything in the Budget for them?"
When questioned by AM co-host Lloyd Burr what she meant by Māori given there are politicians within ACT and NZ First who are Māori, Raukawa-Tait said Te Pāti Māori is the only party with a "mandate to speak for Māori".
"They are in Parliament to speak on behalf of the Māori constituents who voted for them."
While she acknowledged there are many Māori on the general roll, she said ultimately Te Pāti Māori is there for the Māori who voted for them.
"Māori issues are never given the same weight of consideration as others," she said. "I don't see any other party standing up and saying, 'No there are things we can do to improve the wellbeing of Māori'."
"I actually applaud Waititi. He is without fear, he knows what his job is, if people don't like it too bad."
However, Barnett said he identifies as one of the Māori who didn't vote for Te Pāti Māori and feels the protesters are making things about race, not outcomes.
"I have a look at the incendiary rhetoric that's been applied, the language has become the issue instead of the things that really are the issues that should be being debated," Barnett said.
He said the language used on Tuesday was "revolutionary not evolutionary" and looking backwards not forwards.
Barnett added the issues should have been around housing, health, opportunity, and the future - not race.
"To my mind, that's what's wrong. "
He added people are protesting before they even know what is in the Budget.
"I don't mind people protesting, I have no difficulty with that. I just have a look at the incendiary rhetoric that has been applied to this and made into something about race, not the real issues that need to be addressed."
Watch the full interview above.
