West Papua flag rising
We were honoured to attend the rising of the Morning Star flag, standing in solidarity with the global call to free West Papua from the illegal occupation by Indonesia.
For over 65 years, West Papua has endured a devastating occupation, resulting in thousands of lives lost, ancestral lands polluted by rampant deforestation and mining, and a persistent apathy from the Indonesian government toward the atrocities committed by the military.
As part of a collective who gathered on a sunny Monday afternoon in solidarity, it was great to reconnect with familiar faces from Oceania Interrupted, who continue to advocate for West Papua through community events, art installations, and an unapologetic presence across Moana Nui a Kiwa.
The ceremony began with an opening karakia by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, the mana whenua of Central Tāmaki Makaurau. After the session was blessed and acknowledgments made, we raised the Morning Star flag, played the national anthem of West Papua, and observed a moment of silence. Both events, across the two-day period, were a beautiful acknowledgment of West Papua and a necessary reminder that until West Papua is free, none of us truly are.
While the flag raising lasted only a few minutes, the collective presence of everyone there spoke volumes. Many in West Papua cannot peacefully demonstrate or speak out against oppression, as the consequences can be severe.
For those of us who support the cause, we have a responsibility to speak out for our community back in Papua who cannot.
The flag ceremony also concluded a two-day event for West Papua. The day before, on Sunday, there was a community gathering to bring together people who care about West Papua. We shared kai, exchanged stories, and had the privilege of listening to Mary, a Papuan doctor who moves between PNG, Aotearoa, and West Papua, providing care where it is needed most.
By continuing to show up for West Papua and having a global solidarity movement, it ensures that communities know about the genocide happening and puts pressure on those who have the power to make a difference.
Because ultimately, raising the Morning Star flag isn’t just a ceremony t’s a stand for justice, freedom, and the voices of West Papua now and future generations to come.