Harawira's family aimed to cash in on flag - report

Maori MP Hone Harawira. Photo / Supplied

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira's family planned to make money from the Government's decision to allow the tino rangitiritanga flag to be flown on government buildings on Waitangi Day, it was reported tonight.

The flag has become popular since the decision to give it official status and TV One News reported Mr Harawira's wife Hilda intended copyrighting it along with a woman who is its only living designer.

The plan was for a trust to be set up to gather royalties from sales of the flag, the report said.

It also said Mr Harawira's sister Hinewhara was selling the flag at Waitangi, buying supplies from an Auckland flag maker and charging a 20 per cent mark up.

It is understood she has been selling the flag at Waitangi for several years.

Mr Harawira said the trust was intended to benefit the families of the flag's designers - the two others are dead - and he had withdrawn from the process because of the apparent conflict of interest.

He said he had told the families of the designers to hire a lawyer to set up the trust.

- NZPA