Tino Rangatiratanga flag
The national Māori flag, also known as the Tino Rangatiratanga flag in reference to the concept of tino rangatiratanga, is used to represent the national identity of the indigenous people of New Zealand. In 2009, the Tino Rangatiratanga flag was selected as the national Māori flag after a nationwide consultation. It was first revealed on Waitangi Day in 1990. Though it does not have official status from the New Zealand Government, it has been used by the government on official occasions.
Description
The national Māori flag uses the colours: black, red ochre, and white or silver. Each of the colours references a realm in the creation story of Māori mythology: black is Te Korekore, red is Te Whai Ao, and white is Te Ao Mārama. The design features a koru, a common design in Māori tattoo and sculpture. It symbolises renewal and hope for the future. The white part of the flag is also a reference to the current Māori name for New Zealand: Aotearoa, often translated as "Land of the Long White Cloud."History
Creation
In 1989, the New Zealand government was preparing to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, a historical document between the British colonial government and the indigenous native tribes. In response to this celebration, several native independence organisations, including Te Kawariki, sought to raise awareness of the ways in which they believed the Treaty had been breached. Te Kawariki, inspired by the Australian Aboriginal flag, decided to hold a public contest for a design. However, they did not feel any of the contest submissions fitted what they were looking for. Artist Hiraina Marsden created her design, that was later sewed by Jan Smith, and Linda Munn and others of Te Kawariki. The artists consulted descendants of precolonial natives hui, Jan Smith and other members of Te Kawariki sewed the first Māori flag. The flag was first revealed to the public on 6 February, Waitangi Day, 1990. It quickly gained popularity among people who identify with Māori ethnicity.Use and recognition
A Māori advocacy group, Te Ata Tino Toa, applied for the national Māori flag to fly on the Auckland Harbour Bridge on Waitangi Day beginning in 2008. Initially, Transit New Zealand, the government agency that was responsible for the bridge, declined on the basis that the flag did not represent a country recognised by the United Nations. After campaigning with a number of tactics, including lobbying Transit New Zealand and Parliament, submissions to the Human Rights Commission, and holding an annual 'Fly the Flag' competition, the government agreed to fly a Māori flag provided that there was a consensus on which one to fly. A Māori Party–led promotion and series of hui led to 1,200 submissions, with 80% of participants in favor of the Tino Rangatiratanga flag as the preferred Māori flag.On 14 December 2009, Prime Minister John Key and Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples announced the flag would fly from the Auckland Harbour Bridge and other official buildings on Waitangi Day. Key explained that it would not replace the New Zealand flag but would fly alongside it, in recognition of the partnership that exists between the Crown and the descendants of precolonial natives since the Treaty of Waitangi, stating: "No changes are being made to the status of the New Zealand flag". The move was met with some criticism, with Monarchy New Zealand describing the move as "potentially divisive", to which Key responded that it symbolised unity and improving race relations.
In the 2015–2016 New Zealand flag referendums, organisers approached the Tino Rangatiratanga flag designers about the possibility of including it as a candidate for a national flag, but the designers declined.
The flag saw a significant uptick in popularity in 2025 as a result of the controversy surrounding the introduction of the Treaty Principles Bill.