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February 04, 2013
Rotorua Council to fly He Whakaputanga flag
Waatea Team
Posted On February 4, 2013
The Rotorua District Council has decided it will fly the flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand on Waitangi Day, rather than the more recent tino rangatiratanga flag.
Its Te Arawa Standing Committee, which recommended the choice, says it's a temporary fix.
Te Pukenga Koeke o Te Arawa, the group of Te Arawa kaumatua which advises the council on cultural matters, will hold a design competition for a Te Arawa flag that can fly on Waitangi Day and other occasions when the iwi needs to be represented.
The United Tribes flag was chosen by a group of northern chiefs in 1834 as a way to prevent their ships being seized on trading voyages to Sydney.
The following year the same group of chiefs signed a Declaration of Independence with James Busby, the British government's representative in New Zealand.
Copyright © 2013, Uma Broadcasting Ltd
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