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New Zealand - Traditional Maori flags

Ngati Tuwharetoa
Ratana faith

See also:

Ngati Tuwharetoa

James Dignan, 5 August 1997

This the flag of Ngati Tuwharetoa, one of New Zealand’s biggest and most important Maori Iwi (tribes), seen on last night’s news during coverage of the funeral of Tuwharetoa Paramount Chief Sir Hepi Te Heuheu. The flag is an unusual one — it contains a scene which (from the brief three or four seconds or so during which it was shown) appears to show a Maori warrior standing in front of a marae (tribal village centre), against a background of forest. This is placed on a pale blue background containing the four stars of the New Zealand flag. At the hoist, there is a broad band which appeared to be either dark blue or black (this may have just been the shadow of the flagpole on the fabric of the flag, but I don’t think so). This band was covered by part of the village scene.

Two points about this image:

this is from three or four seconds on film clip. I did video it, but even replaying the video, I couldn’t get a very clear picture of it.
I apologise both to FOTW listmembers and also to the people of Ngati Tuwharetoa for my lousy attempt at drawing a warrior and a village! MacDraw Pro™ and my artistic abilities both have their limitations!

James Dignan, 5 August 1997

Pronunciation of Ngati Tuwharetoa:

Ng - as in "hanger" (one sound)
a - as in "workable"
ti - as in "tee"
Tu - as in "to"
wha - as in "emphasis"
re - as in "referendum"
(a rolling "r", if you can’t roll "r"s, use "de" as in "demonstration")
to - as in "taught"
a - as in "workable"

Roti, 7 June 1999

Ratana faith

James Dignan, 28 Jul 1997

This is the emblem of the Ratana faith, a Christian sect peculiar to New Zealand and particularly to the Maori people. It has been prominent in the news here in the last few days, due to the recent death of one of the leading figures in both Maoridom and Ratana, former politician and campaigner for Maori rights Matiu Rata. (