Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull sees no issues with flying the flag of Maori sovereignty from the council's Civic Centre to mark Waitangi Day tomorrow.
The flying of the flag will come as events are held around the South, including Ngai Tahu's Treaty Festival in Bluff, to mark 175 years since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Mr Cull said yesterday the Tino Rangatiratanga flag, which has caused controversy in the past when flown in other parts of New Zealand, had been flown from the Civic Centre dating back to before he was mayor.
He was not concerned other councils spoken to in the Otago region were not flying the flag.
''Somebody's got to be first,'' Mr Cull said.
The flag was flown after a request from sections of the local Maori community and was about recognising the two sides of the Treaty partnership.
The council flew other flags to mark special days at the request of other sections of the community.
Queenstown Lakes District Council communications manager Michele Poole said it would not be flying the Tino Rangatiratanga flag tomorrow because ''we fly the New Zealand flag on our official flagpoles''.
The council had never flown the Maori flag, nor had it ever received a request to do so, as far as Ms Poole could ascertain.
The Clutha District Council would not be flying the Tino Rangatiratanga flag, a council spokeswoman said.
The council had not flown the flag in the past, nor ever had a request to do so, she said.
The Central Otago District Council also said it would not be flying the flag.
Ngai Tahu's Waitangi Day commemorations, which rotated between three locations including Otakou marae, near Dunedin, were being held at Te Rau Aroha marae in Bluff beginning at 11am tomorrow, with waka ama activities starting at 9am at the Bluff Rowing Club.
Ngai Tahu elder Sir Tipene O'Regan said some of New Zealand's most beloved native animals would be taking centre stage in Bluff.
''I think that our manuhiri [visitors] will be thrilled to see kakapo, takahe and kiwi.''
Another important part of the commemoration was a discussion about the Treaty, with the keynote address from Sir Tipene, followed by a forum discussion.
In Dunedin, a Waitangi Day community concert/picnic was being held in the Upper Octagon from 10am to 4pm.
The University of Otago's Dr Lachlan Paterson is giving a public talk on changing views towards the Treaty of Waitangi at 2pm in the Dunedin Public Art Gallery.
In Queenstown, a community celebration will be held in the Queenstown Gardens to mark Waitangi Day from noon until 6pm tomorrow.
Other events being held in Queenstown on Waitangi Day include the inaugural New Zealand Rural Game and the annual Donald Hay Classic yacht race.
In North Otago, the only major event being held on Waitangi Day is the fifth annual Oamaru Harbour regatta, which starts at 1pm.
