FLAGS 101

By Taipari Taua (Muriwhenua, Ngāpuhi)

The Tino Rangatiratanga flag

The Tino Rangatiratanga flag emerged in 1989 when the Māori independence alliance Te Kotahitanga sought “‘creative ways’ to inform Māori about breaches of the Treaty” for the 150 commemorations for the signing of te Tiriti o Waitangi. Te Kawariki, an indigenous activist group, brought up the idea of a competition for a national Māori flag. The idea of a Māori flag was inspired by a trip to Australia where they saw the First Nations flag there. “It was everywhere … A stunning and powerful symbol that required no words, no explanations, no descriptions.” They ended up finding that none of the submissions for the competition reflected what they were looking for, and so they reached out to a collective of wāhine Māori artists - Jan Dobson, Hiraina Marsden, and Linda Munn. They then created what we now know as the Tino Rangatiratanga flag. The design itself takes inspiration from the Māori creation story.

Black represents Te Kore, the faceless, limitless void – empty, and simultaneously full of potential. This is always displayed at the top of the flag.

Red represents Te Whai Ao, or the coming into being, emerging from Te Kore. It also represents Papatūānuku as our earth mother.

The White koru represents Te Ao Mārama. Te ao mārama describes the world of light, after coming into being. The koru symbol takes inspiration from the fern – unfolding and unfurling into new life, showcasing renewal and hope for the future.

Te Kara o te Whakaminenga o Ngā Hapū o Niu Tireni/Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand

This flag is considered to be the first flag of Aotearoa, and its significance arose out of the need for an official flag for legal and trade purposes. On the 20th of March 1934, missionaries, settlers, chiefs, commanders, and others gathered at the home of James Busby in Waitangi for the purpose of choosing a national flag. There were three flags to choose from, all designed by Henry Williams, who infamously “translated” the treaty six years later. The flag that was chosen is the one shown here, which had already been flown on the ships of the Church Missionary society. 

Having a national flag was important for Māori specifically for a few reasons, one of which included the ability to trade and travel, as in 1930 the ship Sir George Murray, captained by Patuone and Taonui, was impounded at Sydney for sailing without a flag or a register.

Te Kara is seen as a symbol of mana Māori motuhake for as it acknowledged the sovereignty and independence of this country, alongside te Whakaputanga. Not without criticism however, as some criticise it for its lack of Māori engagement among other reasons. Linda Munn said that it “represented the patronising control that Pākeha have always sought to exert over Maori independence.”