A New Zealand flag artwork displaying the phrase "please walk on me," created by Māori artist Diane Prince, has been removed from the Suter Art Gallery in Nelson just 19 days after its installation. This decision was influenced by a surge in public outrage and concerns over safety, echoing similar events from 1995, when the piece was also taken down due to protests.
The flag, featuring the British Union Jack and red stars on a blue background, was part of an exhibition titled Diane Prince: Activist Artist, intended to provoke thought on the Māori experience following New Zealand’s colonisation in the 19th century. It was meant to remain on display for five months but was removed as tensions mounted.
Complaints about the artwork prompted an investigation by police; however, no disturbances were reported at the gallery. Dan Prince, who created the artwork in response to government policies limiting compensation for land theft from Māori tribes, expressed a detachment from the New Zealand flag, identifying instead as Māori.
While many view the flag as a symbol of national pride, others, particularly members of the Māori community, associate it with colonial oppression and cultural loss. Public responses included videos of local residents removing the flag, alongside statements from a veterans’ group condemning it as offensive. Conversely, some community leaders supported the exhibition as a meaningful form of artistic expression.
The Suter Gallery initially defended the work but later cited that the escalating hostility in the discourse necessitated its removal, clarifying that this did not reflect any judgement on either the art piece or its creator. The gallery did not specify the nature of the incidents prompting this decision, and no formal protests were reported to police.
As New Zealand continues to grapple with its colonial legacy, discussions about national symbols, identity, and artistic freedom remain contentious. The incident has reignited debates on the significance of the flag and its place in contemporary New Zealand society, amidst an ongoing reluctance among successive governments to alter the flag or sever constitutional ties with Britain.