March 07, 2016
Maori merit in flag choices
A member of the Flag Consideration Panel says it’s important Maori get out and have their say in the second flag referendum.
Voting is now open, with people asked to choose between the existing flag and the black and blue silver fern.
Malcolm Mulholland says Maori participation was low in the first referendum that chose the black and blue silver fern flag as the alternate design, and it would be good to see voting numbers lifted.
He says both the fern and the current flag with the southern cross and Union Jack have qualities which Maori may feel reflects who they are.
"Some will look at it and some will go, wow that's a bit of us, in particular the way our tupuna traveled. We know that they used it as a navigational tool and so did Pakeha actually. That's the part people may relate more strongly to. Others might say well I've got mixed whakapapa, I have ancestry that comes from Ireland, from Scotland and from England which are the different flags that make up the Union Jack and so I can see myself there, says Malcolm Mullholland.
Referendum voting papers need to be in by March 24, with interim results announced shortly after polls close.
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