Maori meet to decide on national flag

JOHN SELKIRK/ The Dominion Post

FLYING COLOURS: Dan Davis, a hief of the independent tribes, shows his allegiance to the tribes with a flag-emblazoned T-shirt at yesterday's hui in Auckland.

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A national debate on a Maori flag to fly at the Auckland Harbour Bridge - and Parliament - on Waitangi Day has begun with the old ensign giving a popular newcomer a run for its money.

A series of taxpayer-supported hui to discuss the flag began yesterday at Auckland's Te Puea Marae.

Debate was sparked in January when Transit New Zealand refused to fly the tino rangatiratanga flag, designed in 1989, from Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Prime Minister John Key entered the row, saying if Maori could come up with an agreed flag it would not only fly from the bridge, but from Parliament.

Rangatiratanga is competing against the flag of the independent tribes, the existing New Zealand flag and the New Zealand red ensign.

Te Puea Marae did not fly any of them a kingitanga ensign was on its flagpole.

"If you ask the majority of Tainui they would probably say use the kingitanga flag for the national Maori flag," kaumatua Eru Thompson said.

"A lot of Tainui grew up under that direction."

He said it did not matter which national Maori flag was selected as Tainui would fly their own on the marae anyway. Nationally, he had a favourite.

"I would boldly say let's follow the tino rangatiratanga flag that gives us some empowerment."

The independent tribes flag, dating from 1834, had some support, with one of those at the hui, Paumea McKay saying that it was first.

"It should be used to recognise previous injustices. Once you learn the history of this country you will not make the mistakes of others."

Matiu Tuhourangi, a tribal historian, said the New Zealand flag should be recognised as being a yacht squadron ensign, as it was originally used by the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club. "We want to build bridges between peoples with the first flag. They used it in the Boer War."

Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples said it was important that Maori had a flag as a symbol of "your worth and your mana."

While leading a debate, he preferred the tino rangatiratanga flag. "It's different and it's got a koru in it and it's balanced, and it's a nice looking flag and its already starting to feel like my flag."

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira said the wider population wanted to get rid of the present flag.

"When you travel overseas, people think you are Australian."

The Union Jack's time had come, he said. "It's part of our history but the same part of that history is our Pacific relationships. The Union Jack is not deserving of being the dominant part of the flag any more."

FLYING THE OPTIONS

* Flag of the independent tribes: Designed by missionary Henry Williams in 1834 and adopted by 25 chiefs of the Far North. It served as the official flag of New Zealand until the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 when it was replaced with the Union Jack.

* The New Zealand flag: The symbol of the realm, government and people.

* The New Zealand red ensign: Gifted to Maori by Queen Victoria and favoured by Maori as red is a symbol of mana. The 1981 Flags, Emblems and Names Protection Act permits Maori to use this flag on occasions of significance to Maori.

* Tino rangatiratanga: The winner of a national competition in 1989 and unveiled at Waitangi Day in 1990. Its dominant koru represents the unfolding of new life, rebirth, continuity, renewal and hope. It is a symbol of Maori sovereignty.

- © Fairfax NZ News