'Heke flagpole' auction sparks complaints

An ancestor of Hone Heke has lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission regarding plans for a piece of flagpole, allegedly chopped down by the Ngapuhi chief, to be auctioned.

Hone Heke chopped down four kauri flagpoles in the 1840s in protest at the way Maori were being treated by the British.

Ngapuhi activist David Rankin has complained to the commission that auction house Dunbar Sloane, which plans to sell a piece of what has been described as one of the flagpoles, has not asked the tribe for permission.

"We have a problem with this sale going ahead.

"Dunbar Sloane is using the name of our ancestor which is sacred for us, and they have never even asked us for permission. And they are using Heke's name for commercial gain, which we are totally opposed to," Mr Rankin said.

"Imagine if our hapu started to use the name Harrods or McDonalds there would be an outcry. But for Hone Heke, all we get is total disregard."

Mr Rankin said there were also doubts over the authenticity of the flagpole.

AUT University history professor Paul Moon has said the piece of wood planned for auction by Dunbar Sloane next month was "almost certainly a fake".

Dr Moon said his research showed there was nothing to connect the piece of wood directly with any of the flagpoles chopped down at Russell in the mid-1840s.

Dunbar Sloane manager, Dunbar Sloane Jr, said his company was just doing its job by selling the piece for a client.

- NZPA