This billboard on Auckland’s Nelson Street depicts the winner of the Morgan Foundation’s flag competition “Wā kāinga / Home”, designed by Auckland based Studio Alexander. In addition to $20,000, the prize included having the winning design on a prominent billboard.
This design won our competition for two reasons. Firstly it met the specifications of good flag design as judged by the panel of judges – all professional designers. The flag also fulfilled the Morgan Foundation’s criteria of honouring the spirit of the Treaty of Waitangi – two partners agreeing to share this land and look after each other.
The winning design really does symbolise “Sweet Home Aotearoa”. The three coloured triangles symbolize Maori (red) who invited their Treaty partners to share the land, the heritage of British settlers (blue), and our modern multicultural society (black). These three influences are brought together by the white space, which is also reminiscent of the Maihi (the diagonal bargeboards) on the front of a Maori meeting house.
You can find more information on the competition and why this was the winner here.
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