A new nationwide campaign is calling for the Tino Rangatiratanga flag to fly permanently alongside the New Zealand flag on Auckland’s Harbour Bridge, with supporters hoping to gather 80,000 signatures before Waitangi Day.
The initiative, known as The Flag Poll, is encouraging New Zealanders to recognise the country’s shared history and commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi through a permanent display of both flags on one of Aotearoa’s most recognisable landmarks.
Awerangi Tamihere joins Dale Husband on Radio Waatea to discuss the campaign, its significance for Māori and why organisers believe the time is right for a national conversation about identity, recognition and unity.
From Waitangi Day to Every Day
Currently, the Tino Rangatiratanga flag is flown on the Auckland Harbour Bridge on Waitangi Day, February 6, before being removed later that evening.
The annual display follows a decision made under former Prime Minister John Key’s Government in 2010.
Campaign organisers want that recognition extended throughout the year.
They argue that flying the Tino Rangatiratanga flag alongside the New Zealand flag would provide a permanent acknowledgement of Māori identity, the country’s bicultural foundations and the continuing significance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
The campaign is presenting the proposal as an opportunity for New Zealanders to demonstrate pride in both flags rather than viewing them as competing national symbols.
Inspired by Australia’s Aboriginal Flag
The initiative draws inspiration from Australia, where the Aboriginal flag now flies permanently on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The change followed years of advocacy and was formally introduced in 2022, making the Aboriginal flag a permanent feature of one of Australia’s best-known landmarks.
Supporters of The Flag Poll believe Auckland’s Harbour Bridge could become a similarly powerful symbol of Indigenous recognition.
They argue that the permanent display would demonstrate that Māori identity and history are central to the story of Aotearoa.
80,000 Signatures and 20,000 Free Flags
Organisers are aiming to gather 80,000 signatures through The Flag Poll website to demonstrate public support for the proposal.
The campaign also plans to distribute 20,000 free Tino Rangatiratanga flags, encouraging whānau and communities to take part.
Its goal is to persuade the Government to support the change before Waitangi Day on February 6.
The campaign is being supported by a promotional video featuring Te Poho o Hinekahukura kapa haka group and the boys’ choir from Tipene St Stephens School.
The involvement of young performers highlights the campaign’s emphasis on cultural pride, identity and the next generation.
Tipene St Stephens School headmaster Nathan Durie is also supporting the initiative, with organisers hoping the campaign will encourage discussion across communities regardless of political affiliation.
More Than a Flag
The Tino Rangatiratanga flag has become one of the most recognisable symbols of Māori identity, self-determination and aspirations for rangatiratanga.
Designed in 1989, the flag carries deep cultural and political significance and is widely displayed at marae, community gatherings, national commemorations and events throughout Aotearoa.
For supporters of the campaign, its permanent presence on the Auckland Harbour Bridge would represent more than a symbolic gesture.
They see it as a visible acknowledgement of the place of tangata whenua and the enduring importance of Te Tiriti in the country’s identity.
The proposal also raises wider questions about how New Zealand recognises its history, its founding relationships and the place of Māori culture in public spaces.
A National Conversation Ahead of Waitangi Day
With the campaign targeting February 6, organisers are hoping to build momentum over the coming months and demonstrate widespread public support.
Whether the proposal proceeds will ultimately depend on the relevant authorities agreeing to a permanent change to the bridge’s flag arrangements.
For The Flag Poll, the objective is to move beyond an annual gesture and establish a year-round symbol of recognition.
Awerangi Tamihere joins Dale Husband on Radio Waatea to discuss the campaign, the push for 80,000 signatures and why supporters believe flying the Tino Rangatiratanga flag permanently on Auckland’s Harbour Bridge would send an important message about Māori pride and the future of Aotearoa.
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