A banner raising apparatus is described for use with a halyard (228) for raising and lowering a banner. The apparatus is mounted to a generally vertical support surface (222) and comprises an upper halyard guide (220) mounted at an upper portion of the support surface and guiding the halyard travelling in a secure halyard passageway. A halyard fastener (218) is operable to releasably fasten the halyard exiting the secure halyard passageway adjacent a lower portion of the support surface, and a secure housing (212) is mounted externally of the support surface adjacent the lower portion, the secure housing configured to contain the halyard fastener and having sufficient internal volume to securely house the halyard of a raised banner. The secure housing is configured to enable access to the halyard. An elongate conduit defining the secure halyard passageway may be mounted externally to the support surface. The secure halyard passageway may be a secure internal cavity defined in the support surface.