Have your say on the flag referendum

The flag referendum opens today and the Māori Party encourages everyone to make their views heard.

Māori Party Co-leader Marama Fox says, “Whatever the outcome, the tino rangatiratanga flag should fly beside it”.

“The Māori flag that is flown on special occasions, such as Waitangi Day, should been flown every day alongside the New Zealand flag. It should have the same status as the New Zealand flag as a symbol of our duality of nationhood – a constant reminder of the enduring partnership between tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti.”

Māori Party Co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell welcomes the flag referendum but says he’s disappointed it hasn’t led to a deeper debate about constitutional change.

“Today we paid our respects to a Treaty advocate, the late Dr Ranginui Walker, who was part of the constitutional review the Māori Party initiated in 2011.

“The main recommendation from that Panel was that our country needed a much better understanding of our history and our constitution before being ready for any significant change”, he says.

Mr Flavell says while the Māori Party supports the flag referendum process, “It looks forward to the day when the country is prepared to have an informed debate about our constitution”.

The flag referendum closes on 24 March, with the result known on 30 March.

ENDS

© Scoop Media