New Plymouth council ‘bug’ sees American flags hanging along the road ahead of Waitangi weekend

A council from Taranaki apologized to iwi after he “dropped the ball” and allowed dozens of American flags to be hung along the main road ahead of Waitangi Day.

On Friday morning, Taranaki Iwi CEO Wharehoka Wano posted a photo of the north route to the city with American flags that read, “What country are we in? Waitangi weekend and these flags salute us! “

As of 1:00 p.m., the post had received more than 130 disapproving comments, 150 reactions, and more than 90 shares.

The flags had been hung for the four-day Americarna event, which will see nearly 1,000 American vehicles and enthusiasts visit the city from February 24-27.

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They are paid for and posted by the organizer, but approved by the New Plymouth District Council (NPDC).

In an emailed response to questions, an NPDC media spokesperson said council workers were now removing all American flags and taking steps to ensure this does not happen again. The council will have the flags re-hung on Tuesday.

“We regret that we dropped the ball before our national day,” the statement said. “We have contacted iwi to apologize.”

The spokesperson said the council “overlooked” parts of New Plymouth, which has been booked by Americarna well in advance.

New Plymouth District Councilor Dinnie Moeahu, who has whakapapa ties to Te Ātiawa, Taranaki, Ngāruahine and Ngāti Porou, said it was “bitterly disappointing” to see the American flags flying.

He said this was not just for the moment, but because this was the first year the council had decided to fly its own culturally significant flags for Waitangi.

“Mistakes have been made in the communication of the council,” he said. “They are rectifying it as we speak.”

Moeahu said he suggested to councilors last year that they do something to “celebrate the coming together of cultures” and decided to fly designed flags throughout Ngāmotu (New Plymouth).

He and other elected members understood that this was what was happening until he woke up this morning and looked at his phone and saw Wano’s post.

“The calls flooded me,” Moeahu said. “It caught us all off guard.”

However, Americarna organizer John Rae said it was “unbelievable” that people took up arms over the flags.

“What’s the problem? I don’t see any problem,” Rae said. “It frustrates me.”

Rae said he reserves the slot and pays for the flags through the NPDC, before he approves them and has a contractor place them.

He said the United States and American flags had been hung on February 4 for the past three years, and they had never had any complaints.

“It is disappointing, all we are doing is promoting our event.”

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