Winston Peters moves James Shaw so that he does not have to stand next to Simon Bridges.

Tensions between Winston Peters and Simon Bridges boiled over at Waitangi on Tuesday, with Peters refusing to stand next to Bridges as they were welcomed on to the upper marae.

Later in the day, Peters used an unscheduled speech to launch an attack on the National leader, who ruled NZ First out post-election coalition negotiations.

Shane Jones was scheduled to speak on behalf of NZ First, but yielded to Peters, who lashed-out.

"You looking for trouble, you've come to the right place," Peters said, quoting Elvis Presley.

"It was not my intention to speak here but what after what I've heard and the politicisation of this event I'm seriously concerned about the next 8 months," he said.

Fiona Goodall Politicians were welcomed onto the Treaty Grounds at Waitangi.

Peters and other members of the Government were critical of Bridges' decision to use his speech in an overly political fashion.

He launched into an attack on National's roading policy, parts of which had recently been adopted by the Government.

"The plan you were talking about - it was going to take 68 years to reach Whangarei - do you fancy your chances of being able to live to see it?" Peters said, before claiming he'd deliver the road faster.

"The group that I'm a member of at this point in time is slow on the lip and fast on the hip," he said.