Maori flag to fly on Waitangi Day - Cabinet

The tino rangatiratanga flag. File photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Cabinet has approved flying the tino rangatiratanga flag as the preferred Maori flag on Waitangi Day.

The flag will fly from Auckland Harbour Bridge, Premier House and other significant sites, Prime Minister John Key and Maori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples announced today.

"Earlier this year I asked Dr Sharples to undertake consultation with Maori about what Maori flag should be flown on Waitangi Day," he said.

"More than 1200 submissions were received and 80 per cent favoured the flag commonly referred to as the 'tino rangatiratanga' flag as the preferred Maori flag," Mr Key said.

"The Maori flag will not replace the New Zealand flag, but fly alongside it, to recognise the partnership the Crown and Maori entered into when signing the Treaty of Waitangi. No changes are being made to the status of the New Zealand flag."

Dr Sharples said the Maori flag was a simple way to recognise the status of Maori as tangata whenua and their contribution to New Zealand.

"Flying the Maori flag symbolises the Crown-Maori relationship which has grown out of the treaty," Dr Sharples said.

"However, the New Zealand flag remains the symbol of our nation, and there is no intention to change this, nor to diminish the status of our national flag."

- NZPA