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Hone Heke is known for chopping down the flagpole at Kororareka, but he also had a flag of his own.
That flag of his Te Matarahurahu hapu, was welcomed to the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland at dawn today.
Te Matarahurahu member David Rankin says he arranged the loan to emphasise the important role Maori have played in the historical flag debate.
It will go on display alongside other historic, current and proposed flags to highlight the flag referendum.
Mr Rankin says the flag was designed Heke to supplant the United Tribes flag and the Union Jack hoisted by the British after 1840.
It was flown from his pa sites throughout Northland and on his own family marae until the 1950s.
It has previously been on display at The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the National Museum of Australia and the Melbourne Museum.
Voting papers have started arriving in letterboxes for the referendum to chose between the existing flag and the black and blue fern.
Voting closes on March 24..
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