Flag decision 'tokenism' - Labour

Maori leaders are divided over whether the Tino Rangatiratanga will be officially flown at Waitangi. Photo / Rotorua Daily Post

The Labour Party has described the decision to fly the Tino Rangatiratanga flag as the official flag of Maoridom as "tokenism".

Prime Minister John Key and Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples yesterday announced the flag will fly on the Auckland Harbour Bridge, at Parliament and at Premier House, the PM's official residence, on Waitangi Day.

It will also fly at the Governor-General's official residences in Wellington and Auckland. An official said that would be "in the spirit of the Prime Minister's announcement".

Labour MP Shane Jones, who is from the North, said it was not a Maori flag - it was "Hone's flag" - and would have no official status at all on Waitangi Day.

"This flag is Hone's flag. Hone Harawira ran the flag hui process. I think it was largely farcical," Mr Jones told Radio New Zealand.

"At some point in time all of us through an inclusive approach are going to have to develop a new flag. But that can't be done through the Prime Minister choosing his favourite flag or Dr Pita Sharples or Hone Harawira."

The flag was more of a bumper sticker for people who wanted to represent something Maori at an event or overseas, he said.

"I don't like the notion that that flag is going to be the 'Maori flag' on the Harbour Bridge or for that matter on Government House. I don't agree with that."

Labour leader Phil Goff said he was not opposed to the flying of a Maori flag, but he backed his Mr Jones' description of it as "tokenism".

He said it was a minor issue compared to other challenges facing New Zealanders, such as job security and income. He said it was a "red herring" to give the Maori Party something to gloat about on the same day as two bills will go through Parliament removing Maori seats on polytechnic boards and refusing to include them on the SuperCity.

He said Mr Jones' was speaking as a Northland-based MP, where the flag was seen as "highly divisive."

While he did not attach any particular meaning to the flag, it did have associations with tino rangatiratanga.

"Our position is not to support separatism in New Zealand or Maori sovereignty in New Zealand. If it's an expression of Maori pride and Maori culture, fine, most New Zealanders would live with that. But different people put different interpretations on it."

Prime Minister John Key said while opinion of was split among Maoridom, the same could be said of wider public views of the design of the New Zealand flag.

Mr Key said the choice of flag would "challenge" some, but he believed that would change over time, pointing out that Naida Glavish was once sacked for answering the phone with "kia ora" - now a commonplace greeting.

"I think in years to come, while this will challenge some people, this is a flag. What [academics] have said is that flags have different symbols and meanings at different times. But I think over time when people look back and the flag has flown off the Harbour Bridge, it will have a different meaning for them and it will be a positive meaning."

But Mr Key said Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples was wrong yesterday to say some in Cabinet were uncomfortable with it, saying Cabinet agreed to it following a "calm discussion" that lasted about five minutes.

- additional reporting NZPA