Amid jeers and boos, strained Māori relations with government dominate national holiday

Record crowds gather for country's national day as fears of a wind back of Mori rights lead to angry exchanges

• The Treaty of Waitangi explained in 30 seconds

As the sun arced above the Waitangi grounds, boring down on the lush green peninsula where Mori and the British Crown forged a nation in 1840, New Zealand's new government faced the heat - less from above and more from the blaze of alarm over its plans for Mori, which many fear could result in a rollback of rights.

Political leaders gathered at the grounds this week to celebrate Waitangi Day, New Zealand's national day, which marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840. The treaty is considered a founding document of New Zealand and upholds Mori rights.