The Suter Art Gallery in Nelson, New Zealand, removed an artwork by Māori artist Diane Prince after public outcry. The piece, a new version of her 1995 work *Flagging the Future*, featured the New Zealand flag printed with the words “PLEASE WALK ON ME” and was part of a solo show organized by Pātaka Art + Museum. Local resident Ruth Tipu protested by picking up the flag daily, citing distress over the flag being walked on, especially given her grandfather’s service in the Māori Battalion. The museum cited an escalation in hostile discourse as the reason for removal, while affirming support for freedom of expression.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions in New Zealand over Māori rights and national symbols, echoing the work’s original 1995 protest against Prime Minister Jim Bolger’s administration. The removal sparked political division, with Nelson city councilor Tim Skinner filing a formal complaint and deputy mayor Rohan O’Neill Stevens defending the artwork’s intent. The incident also raises questions about censorship, artistic freedom, and the limits of public protest in a democratic society, especially when flag desecration carries legal penalties.