Story: Kīngitanga – the Māori King movement

Kīngitanga flags: Pōtatau Te Wherowhero's flag (1st of 3)

Kīngitanga flags: Pōtatau Te Wherowhero's flag

The flag in the centre of this image was hoisted at Haurua in Waikato on 3 April 1857 when Pōtatau Te Wherowhero accepted the title of Māori king. It bears the words 'Nui Tireni' (a Māori-language form of 'New Zealand') and three symbols, said to represent the country's three main islands.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, James Cowan Collection (MS-Papers-0039)
Reference: A-138-046

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Rahui Papa and Paul Meredith, 'Kīngitanga – the Māori King movement - Origins of the Kīngitanga', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/37842/kingitanga-flags-potatau-te-wherowheros-flag (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Rahui Papa and Paul Meredith, published 20 Jun 2012, reviewed & revised 2 Mar 2023