Maori protesters wave flags on One Tree Hill

About 70 people gathered atop Auckland's One Tree Hill this morning waving tino rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty flags as part of a small Waitangi Day protest.

It follows days of wrangling between Maori and the Auckland City Council over resource consent rights regarding putting flags up on the popular visiting spot.

It also follows a decision by Transit NZ not to allow Maori sovereignty group Te Ata Tino Toa to display a sovereignty flag from the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Flags, including a couple of United Tribes of New Zealand -- Te Hakituahaki o Aotearoa -- flags, were also being carried around after the council warned against erecting structures.

- NZPA