Camille Nakhid asks how hard would it be to read up on the Confederate flag, instead of flying it and ignoring its racial connotations.

Confederate flag flyers at a family concert have no excuse for their racism, an Auckland academic says.

The Confederate flag was seen flying at Elvis in the Park, on January 14, in West Auckland.

Its owner, Scotty, who did not give a last name, said he flew it for Presley.

CALLUM MCGILLIVRAY/STUFF The owner of the vehicle says the Confederate flag was the same as the United States' stars and stripes – "it's the same country".

"That's America. This is Auckland.

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"The Confederate flag is no different to the stars and stripe. It's the same country," he said.

CALLUM MCGILLIVRAY/STUFF Frank Mearson says the Confederate flag he attached to his pavillion (pictured) only represented Elvis Presley and his southern music.

Frank Meason had been flying the same flag at the event for 18 years, he said.

He said he had no problem with it and wouldn't take it down.

"We're not trying to be racist, we're not trying to upset people.

"It's a southern thing. It's part of history. Elvis was from the south."

He said he had always put the flag up and knew of its slavery connotations.

Camille Nakhid, an associate professor at Auckland University of Technology, said Kiwis were too afraid to question their complicity to racism.

It was the third consecutive year Nakhid had seen the flag at the Elvis Presley celebration event in Henderson.

"Being in New Zealand is not an excuse for not knowing."

Nakhid said she would not tolerate ignorant people, racism and white privilege.

"We will call you out on this nonsense. Racism is racism. There is no scale."

The Confederate flag was the emblem of the rebelling Southern states in the US Civil War.

Following the war, it became a symbol of southern pride and came to be an emblem for white supremacy groups.

Nakhid said those flying it needed to do a bit of reading about its history.

"It symbolises white supremacy, slavery and oppression of African Americans," she said.

The flag has also been used by neo-Nazi groups alongside swastikas.

She said children at the event would see it as another United States flag, without knowing of its history.

"They are growing up around the innocuous image of the flag.

"I want young people to say something. Not walk around cars and ignore what it symbolises."

Nakhid said this was why it was hard to get rid of racism.

"It goes to show how far there is to go here. It's not going to change today or tomorrow.

"People just don't want to know they're complicit in maintaining racism," she said.