NOVEMBER 30, 2024 — A petition advocating for the inclusion of the Māori “Tino Rangatiratanga” flag as an emoji has garnered significant attention, RNZ reports.
The petition has collected over 4,000 signatures so far.
The campaign aims to enhance cultural representation and promote Māori identity on global digital platforms.
The petition was initiated by teenager Leah Heremia on November 4, inspired after realizing the Tino Rangatiratanga flag was unavailable as an emoji during a social media post.
Heremia credits the Toitū Te Tiriti movement for motivating her to launch the campaign. “The Tino Rangatiratanga flag is not just a symbol; it is a powerful representation of our culture, our identity, and our history,” she said, emphasizing the importance of its inclusion in a universal digital language used by billions daily.
The campaign on change.org seeks to address the absence of the Māori flag in Unicode’s emoji library, which added various flag emojis in 2015 but excluded the Tino Rangatiratanga design. Heremia argues this omission perpetuates a subtle form of cultural exclusion. She views the emoji as a step towards inclusivity and global recognition of Māori identity.
Heremia has also reached out to Linda Munn, the last surviving designer of the Tino Rangatiratanga flag, to secure permission before formally presenting the petition to Unicode. “Until she gives me permission, I won’t move forward with it,” Heremia stated.
The Tino Rangatiratanga flag, created in 1989 by Hiraina Marsden, Jan Dobson, and Linda Munn as part of a flag competition by the political group Te Kawariki, holds deep symbolic meaning. According to the petition, black represents Te Korekore (the realm of potential being), white symbolizes Te Ao Mārama (the realm of light and physical existence), and red reflects Te Whei Ao (the realm of becoming, linked to Papatūānuku, the Earth Mother). The koru, a central feature, represents new life, renewal, and hope.
Unicode requires substantial evidence of demand for new emojis, making widespread support essential for the petition’s success. Heremia sees this as an opportunity to promote cultural diversity and foster global awareness of Māori heritage. “It would be one small step to more inclusion of indigenous and for Māori to be known across the world,” she noted.
Image: Stug.stug, CC BY-SA 3.0