Editorial: Search for Maori flag a major opportunity

It makes sense for the Rotorua District Council to agree to fly a Maori flag to mark Waitangi Day, New Zealand's national day.
As council chief executive Peter Guerin says, that's the easy part.
The hard part is deciding on a flag to represent the Rotorua district's many Maori residents.
Many don't believe the widely flown Tino Rangatiratanga flag represents local Maori, and for some it has negative connotations. There are several other options - too many in fact. It is estimated there could be up to 50 different flags flown by the area's marae.
Te Arawa kaumatua Jim Gray says he would prefer to see the New Zealand flag flown alone - and voters in our online poll agree - but if a Maori flag is to be flown, Mr Gray says he would like to see a flag representing all the people of Te Arawa.
There has been a suggestion that this issue provides a welcome opportunity to come up with a new flag to represent all of Te Arawa - that this could be an issue that brings Te Arawa together.
As an elected mouthpiece for local iwi, Te Arawa Standing Committee could oversee a process whereby Maori are consulted on the themes and design of a new flag. There could be a competition element involving local schools and kura. There could be a voting element once design possibilities are shortlisted.
Whatever is decided, it would need to be done properly to ensure input from all those who want to have a say.
And that may well mean there's no easy solution before February 6, 2012.
The alternative to a new flag is no Maori flag flying, or an existing one which represents just a portion of local Maori.
The Te Arawa Standing Committee is expected to tell the council which flag it has decided on after consulting iwi elders, at which point the council will have the final say on whether it flies or not.
We watch with interest.