The Prime Minister, Mr Key, announced that a Maori flag was chosen for Waitangi Day. It will fly on the Auckland Harbour Bridge and Parliament along with the New Zealand flag. The Maori flag is black, red and white with a koru design. The koru is a young fern leaf and means new life.
Earlier this year, the Prime Minister asked Maori to choose a flag for Waitangi Day. Starting in July, 21 hui (meetings) were held throughout the country to discuss which flag Maori people wanted. There were four choices and this one was chosen by 80% of the people at the hui.
This flag will fly beside the New Zealand flag. There will be two flags together.
The New Zealand flag has a blue background. The Union Jack is in the left corner and on the right are the four stars of the Southern Cross which we can see in the night sky. The Australian flag is similar but has an extra star which is very big. Many people would like a new flag for New Zealand but it is hard to get people to agree to a change.