Bay of Plenty Regional Council buildings are to fly the Tino Rangatiratanga flag more regularly following a decision by its Maori committee.

With this authority delegated to it by the council, the committee has determined the flag will fly on significant days to Maori – including at Matariki on ANZAC Day and during Maori language week.

The Tino Rangitiratanga flag atop the Bay of Plenty Regional Council building in Te Puke.

These days are in addition to its flying on Waitangi Day, a day on which the council has already flown the Tino Rangatiratanga flag.

Also flying this flag on Waitangi Day were Parliament, the Governor's Residence and the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Maori committee chairman Tai Eru says the council is the only council to have adopted flying this flag.

Only flying the flag on days of significance to Maori is a curbed approach to the issue, with the Maori committee originally suggesting it be flown every day along with the New Zealand flag.

The committee unanimously agreed to fly the flag in a way that respected the status of the New Zealand flag as:

• ‘The symbol of the realm, government and people of New Zealand'
• An expression of a spirit of mutual respect and nationhood
• In a respectful fashion that reflects its status as the preferred national Maori flag

'There has been a lot of communication to our organisation about our decision to fly the Maori flag,” says Tai.

'Others are using our policy to encourage and promote discussion on this issue to their respective councils.”

Flag detail

The Tino Rangatiratanga flag was designed in 1990. The koru or curling frond shape represents the unfolding of new life, re-birth and hope for the future. Black represents Te Korekore, the realm of potential and the male element, white represents Te Ao Marama, the world of light and symbolises harmony and balance, while red represents Te Whei Ao, the realm of coming into being and Papatuanuku the earth mother.