"The first national flag debate, however, can be traced back to a meeting of Northland rangatira at Waitangi in March 1834 at which Rev Henry Williams – a former Lieutenant in the Royal Navy – presented the gathering of Maori leaders with a choice of three flag designs."
“It’s quite interesting to see that the process of selecting New Zealand’s first national flag just over 180 years ago was in some ways pretty close to what is being proposed for future changes to our flag,” says Heritage New Zealand’s Northland Manager, Bill Edwards."

The Media Release is as follows:

 

 

December 23

 

MEDIA RELEASE

Nothing new about flag debate…

 

Discussion about a national flag is something Kiwis have become familiar with in recent times – particularly in light of recent debate about the possibility of changing New Zealand’s emblem.

The first national flag debate, however, can be traced back to a meeting of Northland rangatira at Waitangi in March 1834 at which Rev Henry Williams – a former Lieutenant in the Royal Navy – presented the gathering of Maori leaders with a choice of three flag designs.

The flag that gained the most votes won – in this case the flag that had been previously flown on the missionary ship Herald.

“It’s quite interesting to see that the process of selecting New Zealand’s first national flag just over 180 years ago was in some ways pretty close to what is being proposed for future changes to our flag,” says Heritage New Zealand’s Northland Manager, Bill Edwards.

“Essentially this will involve giving people different design options for a flag, and then getting them to vote.”

The flag the rangatira chose in 1834 was more than just symbolic – it was an economic necessity.

“British Resident James Busby knew that a ship built in New Zealand – the Sir George Murray – had been arrested in Sydney for violating international law by not flying a national flag,” says Bill.

“The Sir George Murray – somewhat optimistically – had flown a Maori cloak in an attempt to signify the ship’s origin, though this didn’t satisfy the officials in Sydney, and the ship was later sold. In essence, lack of a national flag meant no trade.”

On board the ship at the time were two Northland rangatira, Patuone and Taonui, who both saw the impounding of the vessel as an insult to their mana.

“Busby knew there were 25-30 independent tribes in the North ‘who exercise separately…all the functions of sovereignty’, and he was keen to encourage rangatira to act collectively. In his view, a step towards that was to get them to select a national flag,” says Bill.

“For Maori, British recognition of the first national flag of New Zealand was a significant event. It meant Britain recognised New Zealand as an independent nation with its own flag – and in so doing, also acknowledged the mana of the Maori leaders.”

Busby’s hope that the flag would encourage the rangatira to act collectively was partially fulfilled with the signing of He Whakaputanga (the Declaration of Independence) by 34 Northern rangatira in October 1835 – an event that has strong significance for Maori, with the place of He Whakaputanga still widely discussed and debated today.

These and other stories are told in an exciting new app for Android and Apple smartphones and tablets entitled Path to Nationhood. Produced by Heritage New Zealand, the suite of six Northland app-based tours are available free to download, and are a must-have for visitors to Northland, as well as locals.

Once downloaded the tours be enjoyed anywhere – irrespective of whether there is wi-fi or a cellular connection – making it the perfect virtual tour guide.

“When Pakeha first arrived in Aotearoa they found a dynamic Maori society that was very much a going concern – and loaded with opportunity,” says Bill.

“The contact and interactions between Maori, who were economic players in their own right, and this diverse group of people are part of the journey that led us on the path to nationhood and the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. The tours take people to the places where these interactions occurred and introduce them to some of the characters that made this period of our history so dynamic and extraordinary.”

Besides He Whakaputanga, key moments in history are incorporated in the tours, including the 1831 letter to King William IV, which was signed by 13 Northland rangatira. The leaders petitioned the king for help to protect their land against colonisation by the French, and to bring order to lawless settlers, among other things.

Feedback from people who have already enjoyed some of the app tours has been overwhelmingly positive according to Bill.

“The tours make this incredible period of our history come alive, and tell these stories in an engaging and accessible way. Many of the stories centre around some of our fantastic Heritage Destinations in Northland, so people can actually visit places where many of these people lived, and events took place.

“It’s fair to say that the app tours give people an opportunity to see history through new eyes,” he says.

For a free download of the Path to Nationhood suite of Northland tours visit heritage.org.nz/apps or search for Heritage Trails through your online app store.

 

 

Background:

 

• The six Path to Nationhood app-based tours are available through Heritage New Zealand’s free Heritage Trails app – to download: heritage.org.nz/apps
• There are five land-based tours and one sea-based tour covering the Bay of Islands and the Hokianga.
• The tours work for both Android and Apple format smartphones and tablets, and include useful trip advice and additional information for further reading for people hooked on learning more about this period of history.
• The Path to Nationhood suite of tours include:

• Path to Nationhood
• On a Mission
• From the Sea
• Coasting North
• To the West
• Twin Coast Discovery

• The tours look at the contact and interaction between Maori and a diverse group of Pakeha who arrived in New Zealand – including missionaries, whalers, traders, vagabonds, soldiers, governors, land-grabbers, politicians, gentle-folk and even a few Aussie convicts.
• This contact and interaction ultimately led to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, and the path to nationhood.
• Written and researched by former Heritage New Zealand staff member Stuart Park, with Professor Manuka Henare and his team at the University of Auckland School of Business providing a Maori cultural and historical perspective, the tours incorporate audio using actors like Tui Ruwhiu and Michael Hurst. Sound effects also help bring the stories to life.
• Key moments in history are incorporated in the tours – including the 1831 letter to King William IV, which was signed by 13 Northland Rangatira who petitioned the king for help to protect their land against colonisation by the French, and to bring order to lawless settlers – among other things.
• The signing of He Whakaputanga [the Declaration of Independence] in 1835 is also included along with the story of enterprising rangatira Ruatara whose chiefly mana enabled Samuel Marsden to establish the first Christian mission at Hohi in the Bay of Islands in 1814.