26 Mar 2015

Maori war flag to be repatriated

8:39 am on 26 March 2015

A local authority in Scotland has agreed to let a Maori war flag be returned to New Zealand.

The Maori war flag that was confiscated by the Crown currently held at Hawick Museum in Scotland.

The Maori war flag currently held at Hawick Museum in Scotland. Photo: Scottish Borders Council / BBC

Wairoa Museum in Hawke's Bay made an official bid to Hawick Museum in Scotland for a 19th century Hauhau flag to be returned home.

The flag was confiscated by the Crown after the Battle of Omaruhakeke in 1865 and ended up by being donated to the museum in 1921 by Scottish artist, Tom Scott.

Scottish Borders Council's executive committee decided that it should be repatriated.

Councillor Vicky Davidson had already said there was "no good reason" for the flag to be part of the local museum collection.

The bid was supported by the descendants of those rangatira who fought in the battle.