The Bay of Plenty has delivered an emphatic 'no” to the idea of a new national flag.

In an online poll run over the space of a week here at SunLive, a whopping 80 per cent rejected the Government's idea for a new flag.

From the 1,172 people who responded to the poll, 941 (80 per cent) voted against a new flag and 231 (20 per cent) voted in favour.

It's believed the $25.7 million price tag for the flag referendums could have prompted the response.

Despite the resounding 'no”, the Government is proceeding with Prime Minister John Key's 'pet project”.

The best three or four alternate flag designs will be put to the public in a referendum late next year. The winner will then go to a ‘play-off' with the existing flag in another referendum in April 2016.

Facing questions in Parliament on the massive costs, Mr Key says: 'What price do you put on democracy where people can genuinely have their say on a matter that is actually important?”

The resounding poll result also comes on a day when prominent Tauranga artist Dave Roy personally endorsed the controversial Maori flag Tino Rangatiratanga as 'simply the best contender for the new flag.”

Dave Roy, who is not Maori, accepts some people will not like the political connotations attached to the flag.

That's because it's widely perceived by middle-New Zealand as a symbol of Maori separatism and protest.

But Dave Roy suggests those people should 'get over their prejudices”.

He says; ”From a purely aesthetic artist's point of view, the flag is simple, well-balanced and strong. It embodies wonderful strength and harmony.”

One of the flag's designers, Linda Munn of Tauranga, says if people feel positive when they look at her Maori flag , then fine – 'job done!” she adds.