The flag referendum is behind us, and ‘fiasco' is perhaps the most accurate word to describe it. The saddest thing is the majority of New Zealanders probably wanted change.

It was just the alternative to the current flag was simply not sufficiently attractive or appealing. That, I believe, was the main reason behind the outcome.

In my opinion, those who fostered a focus on the panel, the process, the price, the politics, and the patterns were guilty of losing sight of the fundamental issue, namely national identity: whether we wanted to continue being branded as an outpost of Britain, and saddle future generations with that, or whether it was time to assert ourselves as a proud, independent, mature, progressive and forward-looking nation finding our own way in the world?

In her recent book ‘Christchurch Ruptures', historian Katie Pickles argues the dislocation caused by the earthquakes has helped to shunt that city off its colonial track and created a definitive endpoint to a history shaped by omission, myth-making, and ideological storytelling.

In a sense, the flag referendum also provided that opportunity. It was like a coming of age. It afforded the chance to express our identity with a flag that was unmistakably unique, which inexorably meant not having the flag of another country as a key component.

Sadly, we did not take that opportunity. As a well-respected nation playing an increasingly significant role on the world stage, we were offered a fresh and distinctive new costume, but 56 per cent of us opted to keep the same tired, outdated livery that we were forced to put on in 1902, and has now been worn for more than 100 years.

Old-fashioned, and no longer reflective of what our country is like today, it was at least familiar and still reasonably comfortable. The poor quality of the five new costumes paraded before us failed to generate any overwhelming desire to alter our garb.

At least 43 per cent of us (probably more) hope this is not the end of the matter. And with that level of support, it shouldn't be. As one of them, my earnest wish would be that some better costumes will soon come to light, and among them will be one which will leave pretty well all of us in no doubt that it really is time for a change - a change for the better.

P Donnell, Welcome Bay