Any plans for an independent Māori Parliament, as called for by Te Pāti Māori yesterday, might already be crushed - as Kiingi Tuheitia, the Māori King, revealed the idea scares him.
About 2000 people joined a who's who of Māoridom at a national hui in Hastings on Friday, where the theme was more about unity than separation.
Bathed in morning sunlight, Ōmāhu Marae is a shining example of what can happen when iwi come together.
The area was decimated a year ago by Cyclone Gabrielle and many of those who helped rebuild returned on Friday for the Hui Taumata.
Like previous national hui, motivated by the threat Māori feel from the Coalition Government's policies, the theme is kotahitanga (unity).
"We cannot turn the clock back on the significant achievements and progress that have been made because Māori are looking towards the future," said former Labour Minister Nanaia Mahuta.
"It is a young demographic and it will sustain the backbone of our nation and our economy, and our growing positivity around our sense of identity," she told Newshub.
Ngāti Kahungunu chair Bayden Barber echoed those comments.
"We're stronger together. I think that's the main message," he said.
"We are stronger together, unity is where it's at... Kāwanatanga [the Government], they have an important role to play, but we will look at ourselves first, and then we'll come back to you in a unified fashion."
Speaker after speaker challenged the Government's support of things Māori feel are crucial to their wellbeing - like language, culture, health and the environment.
Newshub asked Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka if he finds it difficult to be the face of some decisions that are really unpopular with Māori.
"No, no, it's not hard, because I think we're doing it for the right reason," he replied.
On Thursday, Te Pāti Māori called for an independent Māori Parliament but there was uncertainty about that on Friday.
"Well, that's something that could be ongoing. That's going to take a while to kind of get off the ground," said climate activist Mike Smith.
"But I think in the short term, what we can do is just stem the bleeding. You know, we need to cauterise the wounds that have been created," Smith added.
And with the final speech of the hui, Kiingi Tuheitia revealed his own thoughts about a Māori Parliament.
"Actually it frightens me," he told the crowd.
This was the third Hui ā-Motu (National Hui) of its kind this year, and before it ended, Kiingi Tuheitia said there will be a fourth hosted by Ngāi Tahu in the South Island.
Once that's complete, they'll take something to the Government.
