Mōkau won't remove US flags

MŌKAU businesses and its museum have been lined with American flags in anticipation of the Americana Car Festival tipped to draw thousands of tourists to Taranaki this weekend.

The display has attracted a mix of comments from the public, both positive and negative, but despite some groups opposing the festival for political reasons, there are no plans to remove the flags.

A spokesperson for the museum said it was holding an Americana Exhibition running through to Saturday.

Businesses in the village had also mostly got on board and nobody anticipated a push back from protesters.  

“The businesses are celebrating American car culture and it’s great to see the community getting on board to welcome the cars as they are on the way to New Plymouth for this annual event.

“Americana is its 16th year, with more than 600 classic cars expected, many of which will pass through Mōkau.”

In anticipation of capturing the attention of the classic car drivers and their supporters, a museum display depicting the history of the event has been set up.

Movies based on the Americana theme are being screened continually in the Museum’s Little Theatre.

However, New Zealand Autocar Magazine reports that activist groups want a boycott of the event because of its “environmental and its cultural implications”.

Climate Justice Taranaki, Palestinian Solidarity Taranaki, and Better Streets Project are calling for members of the public and local schools to steer clear because they feel the festival glorifies the use of fossil fuels during a “climate emergency” among other concerns.

“American car culture is the epitome of fossil fuel addiction and individualism.

“The car culture in Aotearoa has dominated our urban landscape and continues to marginalise those who can’t afford a car or those who would rather walk, cycle, or take public transport,” Catherine Cheung, Climate Justice Taranaki, told the magazine.

“It goes without saying that while classic cars generally emit more emissions than modern vehicles with fuel-efficient engines, they’re primarily used for special occasions and are often only driven a few thousand km per year if not less.”

Kate Cole, of Palestinian Solidarity Taranaki, told the newspaper that the display of the American flag and celebration of its culture is “disturbing and distasteful” due to the United States Government’s support of Israel in its war with Palestine.