Amato Tohukai Akaran-Rewi with the United Tribes flag. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey
A Maori flag can fly from One Tree Hill - with conditions attached - after days of wrangling over whether one could be hoisted from the Auckland landmark.
The Auckland City Council and Ngati Whatua yesterday reached an agreement with Ngapuhi kaumatua Kingi Taurua allowing him to fly
the 1834 flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand - Te Hakituatahi o Aotearoa flag.
"All he intends to do is hold the flag on One Tree Hill [this morning]," said deputy mayor Bruce Hucker.
"He is not intending to raise a structure or to damage the mountain in any way."
One Tree Hill was last week chosen as a more appropriate site after Transit would not allow Maori sovereignty group Te Ata Tino Toa to hoist the tino rangatiratanga flag on the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
Dr Hucker said his concerns were about the protocols the council had with Ngati Whatua, who have mana whenua, or customary authority, over One Tree Hill which is administered by the city council.
Key Ngati Whatua figures were unavailable for a hui to discuss the matter. "I'm not endorsing the decision but I'm not going to intervene," said Dr Hucker.
But Mr Taurua, who is also a broadcaster for Radio Waatea, said he was delighted with the decision.
"I think it's a bi-cultural perspective and they realised Transit had made a bad decision in terms of keeping us off the harbour bridge," he said.
"I think they are trying to accommodate us to bring peace and tranquillity to our nation."
He was "very happy" that he could stand and hold the United Tribes flag on One Tree Hill.
"This is only the beginning; next year it will get bigger and bigger until we get a fair go," he said.
Mr Taurua, who will make his way up the hill about 8am today, said he had received support from Ngati Whatua chairman Grant Hawke.
Mr Hawke could not be reached for comment yesterday but last week supported calls to fly the tino rangatiratanga flag from the harbour bridge.
