Maori flag won't fly on Waitangi Day | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Indecision about which flag should represent Te Arawa will see the New Zealand flag flying alone in Rotorua this Waitangi Day.

It's understood there is division among Te Arawa members about which flag should represent them on Monday with some opposed to flying the tino rangatiratanga flag because, they say, it does not represent them and is looked upon as a protest flag used by radicals.

Last August the Rotorua District Council's Te Arawa Standing Committee recommended a Maori flag be flown alongside the New Zealand flag on Waitangi Day.

Councillors arranged a meeting in November to ask Te Arawa members to decide which flag should represent them and it was decided to fly the tino rangatiratanga flag next to the New Zealand flag.

However, since then the Rotorua District Council has heard of division among Te Arawa and decided to take the issue back to the tribe for a firm decision to be made before Waitangi Day 2013.

Rotorua deputy mayor and standing committee member Trevor Maxwell said Te Arawa remained undecided about which flag to fly and councillors preferred to not fly any flag until the matter was resolved.

"Yes, there is indecision. Some are saying the tino rangatiratanga flag does not represent them and want to fly a range of flags belonging to Te Arawa. Some are saying we should design a new flag. But when there's that much division it's best to wait and get it right for next year," he said.

Mr Maxwell said he wanted to see the tino rangatiratanga flag flown "while there was some goodwill out there".

Te Arawa Lakes Trust chairman Dr Toby Curtis, who called November's hui-a-iwi on behalf of the committee and Te Arawa, said the decision was now in the hands of the council and the people of Te Arawa.

"There will always be a mixed reaction to the tino rangatiratanga flag.

"But this is now an issue I will not continue to pursue, but I urge council to talk urgently with Te Arawa and come up with a suitable flag before next year," he said.

"On the other hand, not everyone supports the current national flag that represents colonial oppression and did little good for Maori anyway."

Maori Party MP for Waiariki Te Ururoa Flavell also challenged the decision. He said it showed blatant disregard for the recommendations made by Te Arawa.

"Having attended the hui I know there was a general consensus the tino rangatiratanga flag should fly this year ... I have no reason to believe that consensus no longer exists."

He said the decision gave little hope of Te Arawa's voice being listened to and it was not the first time council had ignored the iwi.

"Te Arawa might well ask what's the point in turning up to hui if in the end your decisions are not considered? Te Arawa people give considerable mana to the Te Arawa Standing Committee so it's important for the council to honour that mana and work with the people rather than against them," he said.

Rotorua mayor and standing committee chairman Kevin Winters declined to comment.