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The Maori flag became the symbol for many New Zealanders marking
the country's national day.
The Tino Rangatiratanga flag was carried in marches and hoisted in
New Zealand's poshest suburbs.
For Maori it is the symbol of liberation and identity.
One Tree Hill is hosting one of the flags. The landmark become a place of protest after Transit denied Maori the chance to fly the flag on the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
A group representing the Confederation of Maori tribes climbed the hill before 9am on Tuesday to display the the Tino Rangatiratanga and declaration of Maori independence flags.
"I just want to remind the country that we do have a flag and it should fly on the harbour bridge," says Kingi Taurua, Ngapuhi protest leader.
Taurua says the government needs to take a look at its partnership with Maori. He says at the moment the Crown is driving the bus and Maori are sitting at the back. Taurua says the flags mean a lot to Maori and should be officially recognised.
The Auckland City Council gave the group permission to display the flag on the hill provided it was not attached to any permanent fixture.
In Dunedin, the red white and black flag led the way in a hikoi, a march symbolising unity and pride.
"If we are committed to living here on the whenua, we can all live under that flag," says Reitu Cassidy, the hikoi organiser.
But it is no longer just a symbol at marches and protests - on Waitangi Day, the flag was flying in some of New Zealand's most affluent suburbs.
"I must say that when I got that flag, I got it to stir the locals up a bit because you know they're not very exposed to the Maoris down here," says Tom Tothill, a resident of Fendalton in Christchurch.
For John Murphy, a resident in Auckland's Remuera, flying the Maori flag is a way to make his neighbours aware of the issues facing some Maori.
"The issues that I've witnessed myself is poor housing, the social system seems to be very, very unbalanced. We don't have an even playing field when it comes to looking after Maori," Murphy says.
But for some the Maori flag is still unfamiliar.
"They love it," says Tothill. "They come in quite often and say to me 'what's that flag you're flying?' You know, they even sort of recognise it."
And each year Maori are hoping recognition of their flag will become a permanent fixture.
