Two flags to fly on Waitangi Day

The Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand will be flown from Christchurch’s Civic Offices on Waitangi Day alongside the New Zealand flag.

The Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand will fly from Christchurch's Civic Offices on Waitangi Day.

Many towns and cities across the country fly the Tino Rangatiratanga flag alongside the national flag on Waitangi Day, but Christchurch City Council has traditionally only flown the New Zealand flag.

This year, however, it has been asked by mana whenua to also fly the Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand (also known as the Flag of Independence).

Christchurch City Council Civic and International Relations Manager Duncan Sandeman said while the Tino Rangatiratanga flag had been recognised by the Government in 2009 as the preferred national Maori flag, local iwi had a preference for the Council to fly the Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand.

“They have us asked us to fly the Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand, which was created in 1834 and holds more significance for them, and we are pleased to be able to honour that request,’’ Mr Sandeman said.

In another first for Waitangi Day, Tuahiwi Marae, the home of Ngāi Tūāhuriri in North Canterbury, will host a citizenship ceremony on Monday that will see 50 people of different nationalities become New Zealand citizens.

The ceremony is a joint event hosted by Waimakariri District Council and Christchurch City Council and will include a powhiri, speeches and a traditional hāngi lunch.

 It is the first time Christchurch City Council has held a combined citizenship ceremony with another council and the only time such an event has been held at a marae outside the city boundaries.  Citizenship ceremonies have been held at Onuku and Rapaki maraes on Waitangi Day in previous years.

Mr Sandeman said these ceremonies are extremely popular but numbers are limited so they do not overtake the Waitangi Day commemoration. Ordinary citizenship ceremonies are held by Christchurch City Council every month.

 “This is an occasion where there is added symbolism because it’s Waitangi Day. There’s an added poignancy because the candidates are being welcomed by the Mayor, by the Government and by mana whenua. Those people that are coming to it are all aware of the impact.”

The diverse range of nationalities represented on the day include Fijian, British, Filipino, South African, Romanian, Polish, Nepalese, Kenyan, Korean, Chinese and Slovenian.

Also on Waitangi Day, Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum will hold its annual family day event from 10.30am to commemorate the signing of the treaty. There will be a powhiri (traditional welcome), hangi lunch, children’s races and at 1pm the paddling of waka on the Opara River.