The continuing drama of the separatist flag

It's curious that the biggest controversy so far around Waitangi Day is the news that the Maori separatism flag won't be flying on the Harbour Bridge tomorrow, but will be flying on No Tree Hill.

Perhaps:

• "A Ngapuhi elder is adamant the Maori sovereignty flag will be flown on One Tree Hill in Auckland on Waitangi Day tomorrow" - Newstalk ZB
  
• "Flag won't fly on One Tree Hill" - TVNZ

It's curious that this storm in a teacup has overshadowed the more genuine outrage that John Boy Key's National Socialists won't be supporting the repeal of the Foreshore and Seabed Act. As I said back when the Maori Party announced they would be introducing a private members' bill to abolish the nationalisation effected by the Foreshore and Seabed Act, "good for the Maori Party. The debate should at least show everyone where each of the parties stands on property rights."

It's certainly done that.

There's one thing about the flag controversy that I for one find ironic. It is Nga Puhi rather than local iwi Ngati Whatua who are primarily pushing to place the separatism flag on No Tree Hill, yet it is Nga Puhi led by Hongi Hika who invaded Auckland in the 1820s, slaughtering at least a third of the Ngati Whatua population, and forcing them to flee the isthmus -- but not from thier their pa at One Tree Hill (Maungakiekie), which had been empty since at least the late-1700s. Ngati Whatua themselves only returned to the isthmus in numbers once Hongi Hika had died, and the protection of British law was established -- law that the separatists regularly bewail.

UPDATE: The "Ngapuhi elder" told Newstalk ZB he's showing up at No Tree Hill at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning to wave his flag around "for a few hours." The flag is not the Maori separatism flag, but the 1835 Declaration of Independence flag (right).

LINK: Foreshore and Seabed and property rights - Not PC (Sept, 2006)

RELATED: Property Rights, Maoritanga, Politics-NZ, Common Law