Car protest on bridge over absent flag

A large convoy of cars travelled across the Auckland Harbour Bridge yesterday in protest against not being able to fly the Maori flag on the bridge on Waitangi Day.

The police escorted the dozens of cars which had horns blaring and flags flying from boots and windows. They set out from the Viaduct and drove slowly north across the bridge before exiting at Stafford Rd.

Organisers have asked people to celebrate the Tino Rangatiratanga flag by thinking of creative ways to display it in their local community. There were plans to fly the flag by plane, boat and convoy.

Te Ata Tino Toa representative Tia Taurere said the flag symbolised the long tradition of struggle and resistance by Maori against colonisation and the Crown theft of Maori land and resources.