Sovereignty and symbolism in Aotearoa
RNZ reporting the annual pre-season politicking has begun:Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples supports the idea of the Maori sovereignty flag flying on the bridge on Waitangi Day.
However Mr Joyce agrees with the ban put in place in 2007 on the flying of any flag other than the New Zealand flag on the bridge.
Knuckle-heads. It's Waitangi Day isn't it? It was signed by two groups on that day:
Article 1: "The Chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand and the separate and independent Chiefs who have not become members of the Confederation cede to Her Majesty the Queen of England...
- both of whom had their own flags (below).
If Waitangi Day is about remembering that event then it is obvious what should be flown on a bridge that has two equal flagpoles - the flags of both parties to the pact that created the nation.
Not inspiring perhaps, but historically appropriate. It speaks of sovereignty and heritage from a Pakeha perspective, and also raises a native rights question and self-determination from a Maori perspective (without answering it) - a suitable Mactional compromise I would have thought.
posted by Tim Selwyn @ 4:12 pm
7 comments
7 Comments:
I consider myself a 'half-cast' of New Zealand, a term which I do not use with derision, but as a dignified description of a New Zealand citizen who is 'cast'(molded) from 'combined' British and Maori ancestry. 'The Treaty', our treaty is a living document to be cherished with recognition as our diplomatic founding State document.
The convention of the State is to have a single flag signifying the legitimate uniformity of governance of a governed population throughout the territory of the State.
I think for now our State flag of New Zealand should fly constantly year round-representing the values and dynamics between the signatories of The Treaty of Waitangi; I am also thinking that on Waitangi Day, alongside our State flag, there should be two flags representing both historical British and Maori elements, symbolizing the solidarity of our two respective founding constituencies.
And what better way to celebrate two peoples moving forward together than to have two different flags looking, er, backwards?
The problem is there is no Maori flag, only Maori separatist flags.
"Separatist"? Iwi and hapu have their own flags.
"Iwi and hapu have their own flags"
So which one to use? There is no unified 'Maori flag'
The Tino Rangatiratanga flag is very, very popular and has come to be a unified Maori flag it would be fair to say.
Our origins of State are a reference to signify desired equitable outcomes, one law, and continuity of a civil society among citizens .
Maori tribes or 'clans' can maintain their unique tribal lineage with 'flags' or 'crests', while also presenting one flag signifying
a Pan-Maori recognition among Maori of the State of New Zealand.
And if the British clans or 'tribes' of New Zealand have one flag that is agreeable and representative-quite likely the State flag of the United Kingdom, as a partner and signatory to The Treaty of Waitangi-then this flag can be raised on Waitangi Day.
So on Waitangi Day alongside our State flag, we can fly the two flags that represent the two parties who have established the society of the State which we are now a part.
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