Richard Long
20 January 2009
The Year of the Ox has not started that auspiciously for Prime Minister John Key, with a tumble down the stairs and a broken right arm. The wonderful Webb caricature of him doing the gentle regal waft with his right hand will now need the addition of a heavy- handed plaster cast.
But it has to be admitted that Mr Key showed much more dexterity earlier in sidestepping the Maori flag hot potato by bouncing it back to his coalition partner. That wisdom of Solomon decision left Maori Party deputy leader Pita Sharples saddled with the problem of getting a consensus from Maori on which flag is representative.
That sidestep would have been watched with interest by the head of the Prime Minister's Department, Maarten Wevers, a flag collector who puzzles his neighbours in suburban Northland by running various alternatives up the flagpole at his home.
On occasions this has included the United Tribes flag, which in history, pedigree and design could be claimed to have precedence over the tino rangatiratanga model suggested by Dr Sharples, although Mr Wevers, the ultimate diplomat (his background was with the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry) would never say so. He gives the TR flag an equal airing.
The flag debate has some significance. Even if republic status is long distant, and complicated by the special relationship Maori regard themselves as having with the Treaty partner, the British Crown, New Zealand ultimately needs to adopt a new flag, something which is more symbolic and which differentiates us from the Australian doppelganger. For this reason Mr Sharples's flag debate should ideally canvas prospects that could ultimately become a new national flag.
Infratil chief Lloyd Morrison, a patriotic and caring Kiwi, has been banging on about a new flag for years, even promoting a competition. But the results of this tended to be dark and foreboding, such as silver ferns on black backgrounds. That was not so encouraging. Black signifies death.
The tino rangatiratanga model, with its swirls of red and white, as well as black, is a stirring, exciting flag. It was conceived by the land marches and protest movement but its supporters argue it can evolve from this symbol of rebellion to be inclusive.
Many Pakeha, as well as Maori, would probably be happy enough to see it flying on Waitangi Day alongside the national flag on the Auckland Harbour Bridge - which is what Dr Sharples suggested when he started this debate.
Dr Sharples was probably as surprised as anyone when Mr Key then dramatically offered to fly the flag at Parliament Buildings in Wellington as well, if Dr Sharples could reach accord with Maori on which flag.
If we are going to consider a new national flag, the so-called United Tribes flag has advantages of history and design as well as inclusiveness. It includes the red cross of St George on a white background, with the top left quarter including four stars on a blue background.
While the cross of St George has British heritage overtones, it was chosen by 25 chiefs of the northern tribes in 1834 from three options suggested by the governor of New South Wales. The flag then received the approval of William IV, was recognised by the Royal Navy and became the first national flag of New Zealand.
It was subsequently replaced, but the Shaw Savill and Albion shipping line, which served New Zealand in those early days, adopted a close replica as its house ensign. The United Tribes flag continued in Maori use in some areas and there are also reports that it accompanied at least some New Zealand contingents to the Boer War.
It would be fitting to see such a historic ensign make a return. Certainly it would be more inclusive. It is conceivable that it could ultimately replace the present national flag, but it is a stretch of the imagination to envisage the tino rangatiratanga flag doing so.
The Dominion Post
(c) Fairfax New Zealand