Prime Minister John Key has been welcomed onto Waitangi's lower marae without disruption.

Trouble stayed away from Waitangi today.

Decades of disorder disappeared as Te Tii Waitangi Marae – the infamous lower marae – finally settled its family issues.

And it has a chiefly woman boss who doesn't take kindly to rudeness.

175 years after the Treaty, where is NZ at? Share your stories, photos and videos. Contribute

Prime Minister John Key today, and yesterday Governor General Jerry Mateparae, have been welcomed on without jostling, mud or tears.

That's not to say it is all sweetness; the Ngati Rahiri tribe runs to some lively characters who gave full vent to their points-of-view.

Oddly it just all added to the colour.

As a result of years of disruption, the marae has been under Maori Land Court appointed trustees since 2001. Late last year the marae finally elected its own trustees, including the often outspoken Hinewhare Harawira and her partner Waireti Paora.

The boss though is Emma Gibbs-Smith, a great great grand daughter of a chief who 175 years ago tomorrow signed the Treaty of Waitangi.

She wants a change in the marae, and today it was Key and the National Party caucus who benefited.

There were several layers of security around Key, including the police and the diplomatic protection squad.

Ngati Rahiri added onto it Maori Wardens and the hunky crew of several waka, complete with large, pointy paddles.

Media, who in the past have been pressed to pay koha, were invited on and while they had a designated filming spot, roaming was easy. There was a large public area, but less than 100 showed up.

Fears of trouble, no doubt keeping people away.

Even former Te Tokerau MP Hone Harawira had an outing at the marae, without a placard and seemingly just catching up with old mates.

When Key arrived he was led onto the marae by the marae dowager Titewhai Harawira and her daughter Hinewhare. Titewhai famously made Helen Clark cry and could outrage a nation; today she looked painfully frail.

With the waka crews penning the politicians as one does when drafting sheep, the politicians reached the small meeting house unhindered. A woman kept chanting but it was not entirely clear what she was on about.

Key had arrived late – so the appointment for the protesters (it was about deep sea drilling and the trans-Pacific partnership) had to be put back an hour. No one seemed greatly bothered.

When it came the turn of Key to speak, he seemed animated and happy, congratulating Gibbs-Smith and the trust board for the "good things you have been doing."

He feared it was going to be rough.

"The entry was very graceful, very peaceful and very calm."

In time honoured form he blamed the "media presentation" for all previous negativity and said Waitangi was the place to exchange views.

He was worried, as tourism minister, that people were staying away from Waitangi over the treaty period.

Addressing the trustees: "you are doing good work in rectifying this and you need to be recognised."

Prominent leader Kingi Taurua observed that it was Key's ninth visit to Te Tii Waitangi Marae.

"You are now honorary Ngati Rahiri."

Politicians were reunited with their shoes, and with times a-changed, tomorrow, Waitangi Day, 40,000 people are expected to party.