New Zealanders are about to vote on a new flag design, but two thirds want to keep the current one that has a touch of Britain in it, according to a new poll.
Kiwis will have to submit their ballots by December 11, electing one of five proposed new designs, three of which feature the fern – an unofficial but frequently featured symbol for New Zealanders. A fourth one features the curving Koru Maori emblem and the fifth is a white chevron with red, black and blue triangles.
Prime Minister John Key believes that the current design that has flown for 114 years, with a Union Jack in the corner, is too similar to Australia’s, but a poll shows that 65 per cent want to keep it.
The five flag finalists are being displayed across the country on flagpoles so communities can see them in person before they make their decision.
The country’s veterans group, the Returned and Services’ Association, is encouraging people to not vote in the referendum and instead write ‘I support the current flag’ on their ballots.
Two thirds of New Zealanders want to keep Britain's Union Jack flag design according to a new poll
Kiwis will have to submit their vote of the best new flag by December 11
The winner will go head-to-head with the current flag in vote next year
The Flag Consideration Panel received more than 10,000 entries
By
Ted Thornhill for MailOnline
25 November 2015
Daily Mail
New Zealanders are about to vote on a new flag design, but two thirds want to keep the current one that has a touch of Britain in it, according to a new poll.
Kiwis will have to submit their ballots by December 11, electing one of five proposed new designs, three of which feature the fern – an unofficial but frequently featured symbol for New Zealanders. A fourth one features the curving Koru Maori emblem and the fifth is a white chevron with red, black and blue triangles.
Prime Minister John Key believes that the current design that has flown for 114 years, with a Union Jack in the corner, is too similar to Australia’s, but a poll shows that 65 per cent want to keep it.
About 65 percent of New Zealanders have stated in a poll that they would prefer to keep their current flag, which features the UK’s Union Jack (pictured)
The five proposed new designs and the current New Zealand flag (pictured). New Zealanders will vote on which shortlisted flag they like the bets by December 11.
The
3News Reid Research Poll, taken from November 9 to 17, showed that just 28 per cent wanted a change.
One of the most striking aspects of the shortlist is that none of the options include the Union Jack, which of course features in their current flag.
The Flag Consideration Panel received more than 10,000 entries for ideas of the new national symbol.
The current flag is too similar to Australia’s flag and doesn't represent the modern New Zealand, Prime Minister John Key told BBC.
He said the south pacific country needs a new flag that ‘screams New Zealand.’
An October poll suggests that a white fern on a red and blue background will win out of the five contenders.
The five flag finalists are being displayed across the country on flagpoles so communities can see them in person before they make their decision.
The country’s veterans group, the Returned and Services’ Association, is encouraging people to not vote in the referendum and instead write ‘I support the current flag’ on their ballots.
An October poll suggests that a white fern on a red and blue background (pictured) will win out of the five contenders
Three of the proposed flags feature the fern – an unofficial but frequently featured symbol for New Zealanders
The five flag finalists are being displayed across the country on flagpoles so communities can see them in person before they make their decision
A fourth flag features the curving Koru Maori emblem
The fifth flag is a white chevron with red, black and blue triangles called ‘Red Peak’ (pictured). It was included in the vote after a social media campaign was launched asking it be proposed to the public
The group has criticised the country’s leadership for spending NZ$25 million (AUS$16.4 million) on the proposed change, saying it is a waste of money.
People should select a flag they feel represents ‘New Zealand’s proud, pioneering past and its exciting, ambitious future,’ Deputy Prime Minister Bill English said.
‘This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,’ he said.
‘Very few governments around the world have ever asked their citizens for their views on the design of their national flag.’
New Zealand is now independent from the British Empire but Queen Elizabeth II remains the head of state.
For a new flag to replace the current one it will need to beat it in a second vote that’s being held next year.
I like the bottom middle one -- not that that matters at all.
I like the one on the bottom right the best, as so do our New Zealand brothers, it seems.
Even though you are all Britain's daughters, I've always felt that America is now so alien to Britain that it's like our fourth cousin three times removed. Canada is our first cousin. Australia and New Zealand, however, with their love of cricket and rugby and whatnot, are like our sisters, so much more similar to Britain than Canada and, especially, America. New Zealand and Australia are just so much more culturally similar to Britain than Canada and America are.
There's no way the New Zealanders will get rid of their current flag. These people (unlike many in North America) appreciate and recognise the fact that Britain created their country. They also have family ties in Britain. Most Kiwis have mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts etc in Britain. They will want to keep their close links with Great Britain alive. In fact, the Kiwis are so fond of their close ties with Britain they still haven't forgiven the British for leaving them in the lurch by joining the EU in 1973, which caused a downturn in the New Zealand economy. Britain should leave the EU and start forging closer links with the Commonwealth.
