Story: Ngā haki – Māori and flags

United Tribes’ flag: William Yate’s flag

This image of the United Tribes’ flag (top) and other flags was published in an 1835 book by missionary William Yate. In this version the stars have only six points, rather than eight.

Using this item

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Reference: William Yate, An account of New Zealand and of the formation and progress of the Church Missionary Society’s mission in the northern island. London: Seeley and Burnside, 1835, p. 22

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How to cite this page

Malcolm Mullholland, Ngā haki – Māori and flags – Early national flags, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/35193/united-tribes-flag-william-yates-flag (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Malcolm Mullholland, published 30 May 2012.

Comments

Raukura Waitai
25 May 2020

Adding to the korero regarding the top flag, as well as the number of points on the stars having changed from 8 to 6, the white outline of the blue squares with the stars on was originally black - not white.