Regardless of the referendum's result - a significant proportion of Kiwis still support changing New Zealand's flag, says Change the NZ Flag Chairman Lewis Holden.

While 56.6 per cent of the votes were in favour of keeping the status quo, 43.2 per cent were keen to change it to the Kyle Lockwood designed flag.

'The people have spoken and we accept the majority view. We're also mindful of the close to one million people who voted for change,” says Lewis.

Lewis is thanking everyone who lent their voices to the campaign for change, which reached almost two million people.

'The polls showed we were the underdogs, but more than two dozen high profile New Zealanders joined our campaign to explain why having a new flag makes sense economically, culturally and internationally.

'Those arguments are still valid and I think there's a lot of people who would support change in the future, including many people who didn't vote in this referendum.”

Lewis says he welcomed the spirited debate during the flag campaign and the fruitful discussion on national identity.

He is also thanking every Kiwi who participated in the debate and the referendum.

'Democracy is a process that works only if you're prepared to put your hand up and get involved. Change the NZ Flag looks forward to an ongoing debate on nationhood and national identity over the coming decades,” says Lewis.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says the people have now spoken and everyone should unite behind 'our flag as one people”.

He says Kiwis gave the alternative flag a chance but believes the strong support for keeping the current flag came down to historic reasons and the $26 million cost, which many felt should have gone 'on more worthy causes”.

'While we respect the views of the many who voted for a new flag, it was not to be.

'Whether this was the time for a flag change or not, it did not come about because the PM's handling of it ensured the result we got,” says Winston.