In response to this celebration, several native independence organisations, including Te Kawariki, sought to raise awareness of the ways in which they believed the Treaty had been breached.

Te Kawariki, inspired by the Australian Aboriginal flag, decided to hold a public contest for a design.

Artist Hiraina Marsden created her design, that was later sewed by Jan Smith, and Linda Munn and others of Te Kawariki.

The artists consulted descendants of precolonial natives hui, Jan Smith and other members of Te Kawariki sewed the first Māori flag.

Initially, Transit New Zealand, the government agency that was responsible for the bridge, declined on the basis that the flag did not represent a country recognised by the United Nations.

]campaigning with a number of tactics, including lobbying Transit New Zealand and Parliament,[6] submissions to the Human Rights Commission, and holding an annual 'Fly the Flag' competition,[7] the government agreed to fly a Māori flag provided that there was a consensus on which one to fly.

[10] The flag saw a significant uptick in popularity in 2025 as a result of the controversy surrounding the introduction of the Treaty Principles Bill.

[12] The Red Ensign is a variant of the New Zealand national flag initially created for use by merchant vessels.

[14] The Flags, Emblems, and Names Protection Act of 1981 grants Māori the leave to continue this tradition.

The most common flag was designed by Norman Te Whata and features a circle, off-centre to hoist, with a mere crossed by a scroll representing the Treaty of Waitangi, with the word "Kotahitanga" above it.