It's expected to be the biggest crowd at the Treaty Grounds for Waitangi Day in more than 30 years.
Waitangi Ltd chief executive Ben Dalton told Breakfast this morning: "My staff say that our average is around 20 to 30,000 people.
"So, if you add another 10,000 on top of that, probably anywhere from 40,000 upwards is a reasonable guess.
"But that's not gonna be for the whole time, that'll just be on specific days."
He said opposition politicians will arrive on February 3, the Kiingitanga will arrive on February 4 and Government representatives will arrive on February 5.
"So it depends on which political event you're coming to, but there's also all kinds of other things as well," Dalton said.
"February 6 has the concert and there's also a housing expo, Tāme Iti's coming on the morning of [February 5] to do some demonstration art, which will be well worth looking at, so there's all kinds of things that are there."
Dalton said he'd been to Waitangi both as a protester and as a Crown official.
Now, he's an organiser. He's only missed one of the last 33 years at the Treaty Grounds.
"I've seen all sides," Dalton said. "It's changed significantly.
"In the early days, protest was rejected and we couldn't get across the bridge, there was always a blue line.
"There was protest at Waitangi right on the day of the signing, so protest is just part of Waitangi.
"This year we're not going to have a blue line."
He encouraged all visitors to act in a "chiefly manner".
"If you want to protest and voice your concern about various issues of the day, by all means, come – just remember not to takahia (trample) the mana of Waitangi."
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