An anti-co-governance meeting in Orewa was held on Saturday with up to 20 police officers maintaining a line between protesters and attendees.
The significant police presence surprised some of those who were at the event which was part of a nationwide tour organised by Christian evangelist Julian Batchelor.
Both sides resorted to a sing-off at one point with the protesters disrupting proceedings with 'Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi', while attendees countered with the English verse of the national anthem.
Hibiscus and Bays Local Board Member Jake Law was at the meeting and told Tova O'Brien it was upsetting to see that sort of reaction.
"Not long after the event started, about 12 police filed in and then there were more that showed up outside the venue so it was quite shocking," Law said.
While he isn't faulting the police in any way, Law said there may have been a few more than necessary and certainly more than they were told would be attending the event.
"They were there to keep the peace, they did their job and I commend them for that.
"I do think potentially there were more police there than needed to be, from my understanding from what the protesters had said they were not there to cause any harm whatsoever but they were there to make a stand against some of the claims being made against Māori."
He told O'Brien that Batchelor has his own 'shocking' interpretation of the Treaty.
"It is one I have never heard before, basically saying that Māori seeded full sovereignty to the crown and from my understanding of the Treaty that is not exactly what Māori signed up for."
Law said there were about 50 attendees and roughly 50 protesters despite Batchelor posting on his website that there were 150 people attending.
"I had a little chuckle at that because he is painting pictures."
Listen to the full interview between Hibiscus and Bays Local Board Member Jake Law and Tova above.
You can also download the full interview on the Tova podcast, and listen on the go.
