In a move critics are calling regressive and exclusionary, New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill that would ban the display of all flags except the official New Zealand flag on government buildings—including Pride flags and other symbols of diversity.
Party leader Winston Peters claims the Display of Flags (Government Premises) Bill is intended to protect “national identity” and keep public institutions free from what he labels “politically motivated ideology.” But LGBTQ+ advocates and allies see it for what it is: a deliberate attempt to erase the visibility of marginalised communities under the guise of neutrality.
The bill would apply to all Crown buildings, council properties, and state-run schools. Exceptions would only be made for foreign flags displayed during official visits. Pride flags, transgender flags, and symbols of indigenous or cultural identity would be banned, even during national events like Pride Month or Matariki.
“Government buildings are for all New Zealanders,” Peters said, “and should not be hijacked to force cultural, woke, or divisive political ideology down the throats of others.” His comments dismiss inclusion efforts as threats rather than representations of the diverse communities that make up Aotearoa.
Even more concerning, the bill proposes to criminalise unauthorised flag displays and hold institutions accountable for not enforcing the rules, turning schools and libraries into potential sites of punishment for showing support for LGBTQ+ or cultural communities.
By framing diversity as “division,” the bill pushes a dangerously narrow definition of what it means to be a New Zealander. It signals to queer and marginalised people that their presence and pride are unwelcome in the public sphere.
NZ First’s mantra of “one country, one people, one flag” ignores the lived reality of multicultural and LGBTQ+ communities in Aotearoa, reducing the country’s rich social fabric to a single, state-sanctioned identity.
Although the bill must still be drawn from the Member’s Ballot before entering Parliament, it has already sparked fierce criticism from those who say it would undermine the progress New Zealand has made toward inclusion and equity.
This proposed legislation is not about unity—it’s about erasure. And it’s a stark reminder that the fight for visibility, pride, and representation in Aotearoa is far from over.
