The following protocols provide guidance on flying the national Māori flag together with the New Zealand flag. They are intended to complement the New Zealand flag Protocols published by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.2
Subject to the principles detailed above, flying the national Māori flag should be consistent with current flag-flying practices. Flying the two flags together on Waitangi Day is encouraged.
Where there is a single flagpole, the New Zealand flag should fly above the national Māori flag in order to respect its status as the symbol of the Realm, Government, and people of New Zealand. Those wishing to fly the two flags together from the same height might look to have a yardarm installed onto their flagpole.
If a flag pole has a yardarm, from the ends of which flags are flown, the New Zealand flag should fly on the observer’s left, with the national Māori flag on their right.
Where there are multiple flag poles, the New Zealand flag should fly from the pole which is on the observer’s left, with the national Māori flag next to the New Zealand flag. The two flags should fly from equal height.
If the poles are in a line across the front of a building, the New Zealand flag should fly from the left pole as seen by someone approaching the building, with the national Māori flag on the next pole in the line. If the poles are in a line extending from the building’s entrance, the New Zealand flag should fly from the left pole as seen by someone standing at the building’s entrance and looking at the line of flags, The national Māori flag should fly from the next pole in the line.
If there is a gaff extending out from the top of the flag pole, the national Māori flag should be flown from the gaff, directly beneath the New Zealand flag.
New Zealand follows international custom when flying multiple national flags, which puts the official flags of other countries directly after the New Zealand flag, and before other flags. The most appropriate position for the national Māori flag will likely depend on the particular location, pole configuration and occasion.
There are two suggested positions for the national Māori flag when it is to fly with the New Zealand flag, as well as the national flags of other countries. They are:
2 Ministry for Culture and Heritage Flag Protocols state that within New Zealand, the New Zealand Flag takes precedence over all other national flags and house flags. These Protocols can be viewed at http://www.mch.govt.nz/nzflag/protocol.html
Last modified: 18/12/2009
