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A Ngapuhi elder is adamant the Maori sovereignty flag will be flown on One Tree Hill on Waitangi Day regardless of what city officials say.
Kaumatua, Kingi Taurua, says the tino rangitiratanga flag will be hoisted on the Auckland landmark.
It follows Transit New Zealand's decision to refuse the group Ata Tino Toa the right to fly the flag on the Harbour Bridge.
Taurua says he is planning to meet with Deputy Mayor Bruce Hucker who says approval to fly the flag is subject to council and local tribe Nagati Whatua's consent.
But he says Ngapuhi will fly it regardless as it is important the flag is flown.
Canterbury University Head of Maori and Indigenous Studies Dr Rawiri Taonui is adamant the tino rangatiratanga flag should be flown.
Taonui believe the flag is more Kiwi than the New Zealand flag and that both should be flown on Waitangi Day, just as in Australia they hoist the Australian and Aboriginal flags on days commemorating reconciliation.
Taonui says he will ll be wandering around Christchurch trying to find a tree or pole he can hang a tino rangatiratanga flag from, and is urging all New Zealanders to do the same.
Meanwhile, Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia has backed Transit New Zealand's decision not to allow the flag to fly from Auckland's harbour bridge.
Horomia says one of the problems is that the independence flag does not serve or define all Maori.
He says it is important to understand that a lot of Maori iwi, including the Ratana Church and Kingitanga movement, have their own flag, but he is open to looking at the issue again.
Understanding
Beyond the flag debate, Maori Party co-leader Dr Pita Sharples is calling for unity and understanding prior to Waitangi Day celebrations.
Sharples wants people to approach the day thinking about what the Treaty of Waitangi can be for the country. He says it is the nation's founding document and also one of the first immigration documents inviting people to come and live here.
Sharples says it would be good if people could take that as a foundation, apply it to all the races living in the country and welcome them as New Zealanders.
How are you going to spend your Waitangi Day? Let the team at TVNZ know by emailing us at interactivenews@tvnz.co.nz and we will share it with the rest of the country. Put the word Waitangi in the subject line.
