Tongan flag in high-demand as Kiwis join in support of Tonga

Kiwis around the country are joining the Tongan community in support of this weekends Rugby League World Cup semi final. Photo / Photosport

The Tongan flag is in high demand as Kiwis around the country unite in support of Tonga playing in the Rugby League World Cup semifinals this weekend.

Many stores in Auckland are selling out of Tongan flags as supporters use pre-pay options and scramble for the last of the arriving stock.

Look Sharp Store Marketing Manager Drew Lim said they can't meet customer demands and had sold more than 5,000 flags this week.

Onehunga Look Sharp Store has been the company's busiest and manager Keshwa Nadan said with the last supply of stock arriving this afternoon he doubted much will be left to sell.

"I don't think we will be able to fulfill every customer ... there'll be more people in the store than flags."

Chair of the Tongan Advisory Council, Melino Maka, said the flag is something held closely to the hearts of Tongan supporters.

"I use the same flag for the Rugby World Cup and Rugby League World Cup, it's something that's quite significant, it's old and dirty but I carry it with pride," he said.

But with a nation-wide shortage of flags Nadan said the next best thing is 'everything that's red and white.'

"Flower leis, hula skirts, red bandanas, t-shirts, beanies, hats and face paint," he recommended.

A recent tweet suggested even the Canadian flag could be an option.

With the Kiwis knocked out of the cup last weekend with a 4-2 defeat to Fiji, New Zealanders around the country have converted to Tongan supporters which Maka agrees is great for the two nations.

"It would be good for all the Kiwis to support Tonga because of the bond that we have between New Zealand and the Pacific and I love that New Zealand is a Pasifika country."

"I think you can actually put aside the cultural aspect of it, the main thing is as long as we respect each other and have fun at the same time," he said.

Maka believes the match would help the Tongan community gather in celebration, regardless of the outcome, to finish the year on a high.

"If you look at some of the things related to Tonga and the Pacific it's always negative and I want to remember this as a positive thing ... I think win or lose those boys are our heroes"

Tonga will face England this Saturday at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland as they strive to make it to their first World Cup final.