Flag decision costs $91,600

The Tino Rangatiratanga flag. Photo / Brett Phibbs

It cost $91,600 to decide which flag would represent Maori on Waitangi Day.

The cost included $15,825 for venue costs, catering and koha at 21 hui. Travel and accommodation for officials came to $9368. About $41,000 was spent on advertising and brochures and $25,255 for facilitation services.

In total, 891 people went to the hui. About 1200 put in submissions of whom 80 per cent selected the Tino Rangatiratanga flag.

The documents show Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples intended to seek John Key's support to write to ministers to fly the flag on other important days.

It was changed after Transport Minister Steven Joyce said it should be restricted to Waitangi Day.

The documents include guidelines for flying the flag. They stipulate the Maori flag must be flown in a way that respects the status of the New Zealand flag. It says the New Zealand flag should be flown above the Maori flag if they are on the same flagpole.