A committee of Te Arawa kaumatua has taken over the debate about which of its tribal flags should fly in Rotorua on Waitangi Day next year.
Te Arawa iwi and hapu have failed to select a flag to hoist alongside the New Zealand one this year.
The idea for a tribal flag was raised by Rotorua District Council's Te Arawa Standing Committee in 2011.
Since then, hui with tangata whenua have been held - but no decision reached.
A suggestion at one hui last year was to hand over the task to Te Arawa kaumatua (elders).
Arama Karaka Pirika, the chair of Te Pukenga Koeke o Te Arawa, says selecting a flag is a huge responsibility.
He says there are about 80 hapu flags to consider, and kaumatua have to be mindful in selecting one, so as not to trample on the mana of the hapu those flags represent.
Mr Pirika says the decision that those kaumatua bring back will include korero (information) surrounding each flag.
Arama Karaka Pirika predicts a flag should be selected sometime this year.
