To change the flag is to wipe away our history. Maori never had a flag – the first flag they probably saw was the Dutch, followed by English and French flags a few years later. Luckily, (for all of us), we were colonised by the British and not the Dutch or French, in my opinion. That's why the Union Jack should remain predominant on our flag. It's our inherent history.

Most of us, (Maori and Pakeha), have ancestors who fought and died under our flag. We have had the very best sportsmen and women win medals at Olympic games under our flag. For those people living in foreign countries who get confused with the Australian/NZ flags, that's their problem, not ours.

So, leave our flag alone. You can't invent or change history, and our proud history should not be erased.

P Kewlly, Te Puna