Flags of the Kīngitanga

The Kīngitanga, also known as the Māori King Movement, is an indigenous New Zealand elected monarchy established by the Tainui and other iwi in 1858 in an attempt to unify Māori tribes against encroachment on their territory by British settlers.

It has used many flags since its founding, including some similar to British naval ensigns.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1858	Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand	The amended flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand, New Zealand's first flag, gazetted in 1835 and based on the design selected in 1834. This flag was said to have been flown at the coronation of Pōtatau Te Wherowhero in 1858. Te Wherowhero and other North Island chiefs had been signatories to the Declaration of Independence of New Zealand in the late 1830s.[1]
	1858-?	Potatau era Kīngitanga flag	The flag hoisted at Ngāruawāhia on the proclamation of Pōtatau Te Wherowhero as Māori King, drawn in 1863. It depicts some of the stars of the Southern Cross, as well as a cross in the upper left canton.
	1858–1860	Potatau Hei Kingi flag	A flag used during the reign of Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, the first Māori king. This flag depicts a white cross as a symbol of Christianity on top of a red background, which symbolizes mana or prestige in Māori culture. The lower right canton is colored white and is inscribed with the words "POTATAU HEI KINGI".
	?-present	Standard of Dame Te Atairangikaahu, modern Kīngitanga flag	A flag used during the reign of Dame Te Atairangikaahu (reign from 1966–2006). It is still popularly used today.

See also

• Kīngitanga
• Flags of New Zealand

References