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A Maori flag chosen to fly over the Auckland harbour bridge, parliament and premier house is a symbol of protest and an ad for the Maori Party, opponents say.
Cabinet has decided the Tino Rangatiratanga flag will be flown at significant sites controlled by the government.
The decision followed a series of hui which Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples said recorded 80% support for the flag which is used as a symbol for the party he co-leads and has in the past been used by activists demanding Maori separatism.
Labour MP Shane Jones criticised the hui process and said it was run by Maori MP Hone Harawira who recently got into trouble for calling Pakeha "white motherf...ers".
"This flag is Hone's flag. Hone Harawira ran the flag hui process. I think it was largely farcical," Jones told Radio New Zealand.
The 1835 independence flag was the one with the right pedigree, he said, and the chosen flag would be just a symbol with no status; "It's really a sop to the Maori Party."
"At some point in time all of us through an inclusive approach are going to have to develop a new flag. But that can't be done through the Prime Minister choosing his favourite flag or Dr Pita Sharples or Hone Harawira."
The flag was more of a bumper sticker for people who wanted to represent something Maori at an event or overseas.
"To suggest however it carries the weight of history (is wrong).
"I think it needs to outlive the aspirations of the Maori Party, which is basically their effort to further perpetuate their relevance by getting a flag but unable to get any seats for Maori representatives on the (Auckland supercity) council. So when it flutters above the harbour bridge it's going to be a flag without representatives."
Ngapuhi elder Kingi Taurua told The New Zealand Herald that the flag represented the Maori Party rather than Maori in general and he would not let it fly at Te Tii Marae in Waitangi.
"Why should their political flag fly from our marae? John Key and his cohorts can fly it anywhere they like but it will never fly at Waitangi."
Sharples hoped it may be flown at Waitangi in future.
Former MP and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters did not think another flag should be allowed to fly at all and that the move was a first step which would lead to wider use.
"Why on earth would you want to advertise a country, which is thousands and thousands of miles away from its markets with confusing different regalia when you want to get a clear message out." he told Radio New Zealand.
The local people at Waitangi should be listened to at the least, he said.
"This flag which has been concocted in recent times, resembles more a flag designed for New Zealand railways than a nation or for that matter a people within a nation."
Key defended the choice of flag and said it was a positive step towards embracing cultural diversity.
While saying some might call it a protest flag Key said he thought it symbolised potential and hope.
"It isn't always flown in protest, the team New Zealand crew flew this flag at Valencia, you see it at a lot of kapa haka competitions, you see it at the Sevens," he said on Radio New Zealand.
Over time the perception would change, he said.
"I don't agree that it's a political flag. At the end of the day
the Maori Party chose to have that as its sign but it was there a
long time before the Maori Party. In my view it is going to be a
symbol of the bicultural foundations that New Zealand is founded on
... you don't see New Zealanders running around objecting if the
haka is performed by the All Blacks at a test match."
What do you think about the selection of the Tino
Rangatiratanga flag to fliy over Auckland's harbour bridge and
government buildings? Leave your comments on the messageboard
below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentmulticultural said on 2009-12-16 @ 15:08 NZDT: Report abusive post
No one can dispute if they look back over the history of this flag that it represents separatism and hence racism, Maori need to choose a neutral and inclusive flag. The Kaumatua at Waitangi won't fly it, John Key has been naive in the extreme, this flag will cause division. Imagine if a radical white group like The National Front wanted their flag flown. National whoring itself to the Maori Party is sadly making it look like a one term government..
RY said on 2009-12-16 @ 14:44 NZDT: Report abusive post
The issue is inciting racial disharmony and as a result is an offence under article 131 of the Human Rights Act 1993 no 82 (as of 1 October 2008) the act mentions a summary conviction with an imprisonment upto 3 months and a fine upto NZ$ 7,000.00 no flag until this is sorted please(would not want to see our PM in jail)
slumbergod said on 2009-12-16 @ 07:38 NZDT: Report abusive post
Until the Maori find a flag that represents them in their unity, this ugly tea towel has no place. Look at the animosity aroused by its display!
Alcyonian said on 2009-12-16 @ 04:08 NZDT: Report abusive post
Maori never had a choice in picking the current flag of NZ. Maori never had a choice in many things. The NZ flag represents INSTITUTIONALISED RACISM. The Maori Flag represents Sovereignty. We never signed away our freedom in the Treaty - it was taken from us. Finally, some autonomy on the horizon. Good times ahead.
swiss kiwi said on 2009-12-15 @ 22:45 NZDT: Report abusive post
Lucky for me here in Switzerland we dont have to worry about such trivial matters as what flag to have and not have. Time for the people of new Zealand to grow up, and get out of the tribal stone age