The four alternative flag designs for inclusion in the New Zealand flag referendum later this year were revealed last week, and love them or loathe them, everyone seems to have an opinion.
The designs were unveiled at a media conference in Wellington on Tuesday and will go forward into the first referendum, which begins in November.
Video: Tracy Hardy.
The four designs (below) are made up of Silver Fern (Black & White), designed by Alofi Kanter, Silver Fern (Red, White and Blue and Black, White and Blue) by Kyle Lockwood, and Koru, designed by Wellington's Andrew Fyfe.
Kiwis are asked to rank the four flag alternatives, from most preferred to least preferred, with the winning design going up against the current flag in a second referendum next March.
After the four designs were unveiled, SunLive took to the streets of Tauranga's CBD to see which flag – if any – comes out on top.
22 comments
flag
Posted on 04-09-2015 09:13 | By mlangdon
We dont need a new flag, how ridiculous spending $26 million on this issue just to satisfy John Keys ego. W are who we are, the silver fern represents SPORTS TEAMS which is fine, our national flag represents ALL of us, including those who fought for our freedom in two world wars. Leave it aloan John Key and focus on more important issues like homeless people, upgrading roads, hospitals etc.
The
Posted on 04-09-2015 10:26 | By Capt_Kaveman
guy at the end = what a good answer
To much like
Posted on 04-09-2015 10:34 | By Merlin
To much like a corporate branding and political parties logo's so I do not like any of them.
Not just sports teams
Posted on 04-09-2015 11:52 | By Bronzewing
Just remember it is the symbol carved into all our war grave stones in foreign soil. I am surprised that the RSA seems to oppose the inclusion of the silver fern in a flag or is it just a change to the current flag which is the third iteration since 1840? Of course the whole issue could be a magicians trick to take the focus on what is really going on with the government, like selling off assets that have been run down to a slum state, then blame the new owners on not maintaining them. Who knows but I guess we will find out.
jmac
Posted on 04-09-2015 13:00 | By JohnMac
What was the reason for the change. Most people seem ton have no idea why this is being done and there are all sorts of conspiracy theories such as this being a way out of treaty claims, something to do withe trade agreement, a way to torpedo the constitution, first step to being a republic (makes sense. I cannot believe that soldiers had an image of the current flag while they were overseas fighting. Lets leave thing as they are until the time comes when we have a viable reason to change.
How much
Posted on 04-09-2015 13:08 | By Feruno
is it going to cost each individual for a new drivers license and PASSPORT? What is the MOTIVE ? Tell us....
Keep the flag
Posted on 04-09-2015 13:17 | By The Tomahawk Kid
Keep the flag - return the $26 million dollars to the WORKERS that it was TAKEN from.
seesee
Posted on 04-09-2015 13:56 | By SeeSee
Yes, corporate branding is right, that is what is, BUT, not as a Flag for Godzone, NZ. Should key get away with getting a new flag for NZ, then his next sneaky one one would be making NZ Independent of the British Commonwealth. Thereis no doubt that he has hidden agenda's
A compromise...
Posted on 04-09-2015 14:12 | By Anbob
Why don
What new flag.
Posted on 04-09-2015 14:24 | By Merlin
John Key was talking on radio and said the NEW flag.Is this a foregone conclusion Mr Key is their something we don't know??
Suds
Posted on 04-09-2015 14:30 | By suzieq@wave.co.nz
It is an expensive waste of money, which should be spent on more important things. It is being used as a smoke screen to hide TPPA negotiations, and other underhand deals.
New Flag
Posted on 04-09-2015 20:37 | By Ron
I like the one that replaces the union jack with the black bit. Since the people who voted at the last election overwhelmingly voted for parties with a policy to put the flag up for review (National and Labour) I think the Government has every right to put it to the test
The Flag
Posted on 04-09-2015 22:14 | By roseh
I agree with previous comments,A huge waste of tax payers money that could be so much better used,and it dosen't matter what people want it is all about what John Key wants to boost his ego.and hide what he is up to or what else he is selling,By the time he is put out we won't own much,So let the new owners of New Zealand decide what flag they want.THE WHOLE THING IS A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY JOHN KEY
Garbage...
Posted on 05-09-2015 01:06 | By GreertonBoy
I would never be proud to call any of them my flag. I wont recognise any of them... Why not just have the Nike emblem as well... This is utter nonsense, and we are forced to pay for it... Someone is getting rich out of this I bet.... If they change the flag, as far as I am concerned, we will be flagless, because I wouldn't wipe my ..... nose with the new 'designs' Pffffttttt.... I mean, sporting emblems...
Toilet paper
Posted on 05-09-2015 02:49 | By Kenworthlogger
I think we needed to have them printed on our toilet paper so we could vote each day!
Sad
Posted on 05-09-2015 12:55 | By bungy
Sad that people can't see the value in a flag that truely identifies us as a nation and brand. While it is a lot of money, it has been spent now so let's make the most of a once in a lifetime opportunity to get a flag that will represent us well globally in the future
How about some sense on this issue?
Posted on 05-09-2015 14:32 | By BullShtAlert
I didn't favour all that money being spent investigating a new flag, but now that it has been spent it would be churlish (look that up in the dictionary) to simply stamp our feet and say no. This is a one and only chance so make the most of it. All those conspiracy theories are simply ridiculous. Times change, things change and so can a flag now that the money has been spent.
Not opposed
Posted on 06-09-2015 10:11 | By Bop man
To changing the flag just opposed to the amount being spent, when organisations like St. John, surf life guards just to name a couple have to go collecting and begging for funds doesn't make sense to me. Guess John key just wants to make his mark in history...
You think?
Posted on 10-09-2015 11:48 | By Politically Incorrect
The money on the referendum might be spent, but the millions upon millions more that will need to be spent to finalize the design and actually change the flag across the country is yet to come. Not to mention all the books, websites, blah blah blah that will need updating at personal cost to people and business. John Key will make history no matter what, the man that changed the flag or the man who wasted $26m and lost the election because no one actually asked for this to happen. Until NZ is past all the treaty stuff, racial favouritism, petty bickering, and actually lives as one nation where everyone is equal, NZ doesn't deserve a new flag. Changing the label on a moudly sandwich doesn't stop it being a mouldy sandwich.
Suzanne
Posted on 14-09-2015 16:55 | By Suzanne H
Keep the old flag used by our servicemen & women in the wars. Why spend millions of dollars on changing our flag when there are much more important things we need it for!!
Red Pewk
Posted on 24-09-2015 16:45 | By Papamoaner
The design of the proposed Red Pewk is abysmal. Whoever said flags should be designed by professional designers should remember that some of our ugliest buildings were designed by architects. The reason the common fern is on some war graves is because some public servant at the time found a cheaper option to the Kiwi, and in those days public servants could make decisions like that. let's remember these ferns grow all around the world. Kiwis don't. The good thing about Red Pewk is that it will make every intelligent new Zealander vote for NO CHANGE. That's a good thing.
Change
Posted on 26-09-2015 08:09 | By Kenworthlogger
Its about time we changed our all Blacks too. They are old. And do not reoresent what our nation is. We dont all play rugby 24/7. What about changing the silver fern and kiwi. They are old and outdated too. How about waving flags with household cats on them. They are far more plentyful than the rare kiwi.
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