With the alternative national flag design set to fly with the current flag on alternate days from the Tauranga City Council owned flagpole on Elizabeth St next week, threats of vandalism and calls for a Hone Heke style attack have emerged.
There have been calls on social media for the flag pole to be burnt down with some commenters even volunteering to do it themselves, a written statement from Tauranga City Council councillor Steve Morris said.
This follows an incident over Waitangi weekend when the alternative design and the current flag were stolen after having their wire ropes cut.
However, support for flying each flag on alternate days has arisen from an unlikely source.
Steve Morris who opposed the flying of the alternate design on Council property has now come out swinging in support.