By Scott Campbell
Waitangi Day is still almost two months away but the Government’s decision to fly a Maori flag high above official buildings and the Auckland Harbour Bridge has caused some splits; mate against mate, caucus colleague against colleague.
It is the representation of Maori self-determination and separatism and it is again causing division, not just between political opponents, but party colleagues.
Labour leader Phil Goff says he quite likes the design, while one of his MPs says he does not want it foisted on him.
“I don’t like the notion that that flag is going to be the Maori flag on the Harbour Bridge or, for that matter, on Government House,” says Labour MP Shane Jones.
“I'm not opposing it, I've made that clear. But I've said it’s a minor issue,” says Phil Goff.
Mr Jones claims the decision to fly the Maori flag alongside the New Zealand one is tokenism and a have, payback for the Maori Party supporting the Government.
This despite 80 percent of Maori canvassed saying they wanted it and even his own boss saying he likes the design.
“This flag has been forced upon us; it’s really Hone’s flag. Hone Harawira ran that farcical process and it’s a small gesture, I suppose, to keep him in the tent.”
Kaumatua Kingi Taurua says he won't be hoisting it at Te Tii Marae in Waitangi; he says it is not liked in the Far North.
The Prime Minister, though, is resolute.
“There’s always going to be some people who don't think it’s the right flag and that’s why 80 percent of the submissions supported it and 20 percent did not. But that’s equally true of the New Zealand flag. There was a movement not so long ago from a reasonably large bunch of New Zealanders who didn't think we should fly the current New Zealand flag,” John Key says.
But, like Labour, even Mr Key's own Caucus do not seem to universally support their leader.
While publicly they are toeing the party line, politically some feel it could be more trouble than it's worth.
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