Decision on flag 'misses the point'

Greg Taipari | 5th February 2010

Rotorua kaumatua Ken Kennedy says Te Arawa Standing Committee has "missed the point" over the Maori flag being flown from the council building.

The Rotorua District Council had been given the opportunity to fly the tino rangatiratanga flag alongside the New Zealand flag on Waitangi Day. Prime Minister John Key announced the design was the preferred choice by Maori and would be flown over the Auckland Harbour Bridge and all Government buildings including Parliament.

Mr Kennedy said he was disappointed with the committee's decision not to fly the flag.

Plans to fly the controversial flag were scrapped when it was brought to the Standing Committee's attention on Tuesday.

Committee members voted 3-2 against a recommendation put to them by the council's Maori research officer and policy analyst, Bella Tait.

Mr Kennedy said some committee members had missed the point when it came to the flag.

"Some people see it as a protest flag but it is no longer just about that. For many that flag represents Maori in the modern era. It brings us together as one people."

He said the Maori flag was not there to replace the New Zealand flag.

"They [the committee] have missed the point, it is not that at all.

"Since the introduction of the flag the Government has listened to [Maori]."

Committee member Rene Mitchell said she had been in favour of the two flags concept because it had been agreed by the iwi at a hui at Te Papaiouru Marae last year.

"As the only iwi representative [on the Standing Committee] I have to listen to our people."

Mrs Mitchell said she was in favour of the Maori flag because it was a way to represent the indigenous people of New Zealand and was endorsed by Mr Key.

Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell said there was no obligation by the council or anyone else to fly the flag, but he was disappointed by their decision.

"Whether [the council] do or don't is their own choice . . . It's disappointing they voted for this and didn't take a lead on it by following their only iwi representative [Mrs Mitchell]."

Standing Committee member Jim Gray, who voted against the recommendation, said yesterday having two flags wouldn't bring people together.

"How can it when it stands as a separate flag?

"All it will do is polarise people who don't agree with one flag or the other."

Te Arawa Standing Committee does not have the authority to enforce a formal decision. The council's chief executive Peter Guerin said the final decision would be made at a meeting of the council's finance committee today.