Some media trying to cover events at Te Tii Marae for Waitangi Day are being told they can't enter the Marae unless they pay a large koha.

Visitors to the Te Tii Waitangi marae gather ahead of commemorations on Waitangi Day. Source: 1 NEWS

The donation is normally paid by media organisations that have cameras and take up space, but print and radio media are not usually asked to pay it.

At least one newspaper journalist has been told she can't come on unless it is paid.

Heavy rain is already putting a dampener on events, with a small anti-TPP Hikoi arriving just after 9am.

The amount being asked for is about $750 - in the past TVNZ has paid a fee of $1000 to cover events.