Thread: New Zealanders presented with 40 flag options to vote for new national standard

New Zealanders have been presented with 40 flag options as the country moved a step closer towards voting on whether it wanted to change its national standard.

The government-appointed panel overseeing the project released its long list of designs, chosen from more than 10,000 public submissions.

The 40 will be subject to further scrutiny, including an intensive intellectual property review, before being whittled down to four to be put to a public vote later this year.

A second referendum is planned for next year when the country will choose between the existing flag — which features Britain's Union Jack — and the most popular new design.

Project head John Burrows said the potential new flag had to be unmistakably from New Zealand and "celebrate us as a progressive, inclusive nation that is connected to its environment, and has a sense of its past and vision for its future".

"It is important that those designs are timeless, can work in a variety of contexts, are simple, uncluttered, balanced and have good contrast."

Common themes among the 40 flag offerings are silver ferns, the symbol used by New Zealand sports teams, and the Southern Cross constellation.

Colour schemes are predominantly red, black or blue, and white.

Prime minister John Key, who has pushed for a change, favours a silver fern design to replace the existing flag, which has the Union Jack in the top left corner and four red stars representing the Southern Cross constellation on a dark blue background.

Many New Zealanders who took to social media to comment on the flag designs questioned whether the issue was important enough to justify the NZ$26 million price tag.



New Zealanders presented with 40 flag options to vote for new national standard - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

When the debate started a while back I assumed it would be a simple white/silver fern on a black background but looking at these choices I would go for No.1

No.2 in the original article pic below

I vote: number 3


[an honorary Kiwi]

Wite Fern Black Background. Job Jobbed.

They're all crap really. Some of 'em might be ok for kids bedding & Ikea wallpaper.

You may as well just have a white sheet with "Nuzollund" written on it.

I guess the only justification is that the current flag looks too much like Australia's.

Originally Posted by pseudolus

As long as we get rid of that union jack monstrosity,i'll be happy.

I've heard that this one is currently topping the polls:

As half a kiwi I would go for southern cross horizon.

1 or 3 look really good... it should have the fern....

What is a Koru? Other than being a swirl.

Originally Posted by palexxxx

What is a Koru? Other than being a swirl.

The koru (Māori for "loop") is a spiral shape based on the shape of a new unfurling silver fern frond and symbolizing new life, growth, strength and peace. It is an integral symbol in Māori art, carving and tattoos.

Why don't they just mix 'em all up - they obviously can't make up their fucking minds.

Let the voting commence....

New Zealand begins voting in flag referendum

Voting has begun in New Zealand in a referendum which could see the country getting a new national flag.

New Zealanders have just under a month to send in a postal ballot on which of five potential new flags they prefer.



A second vote in 2016 will ask whether they want to replace the existing flag, which features the UK's Union Jack, with the new design.
Prime Minister John Key has said the current flag is not representative of modern New Zealand.

He also believes it is too similar to Australia's, but has admitted that polling indicates most New Zealanders would rather keep it.


Media captionWhat do schoolchildren think of the new flag designs? The Flag Consideration Panel received 10,292 entrants to its nationwide design competition.

Not all were entirely serious, though some of the rejected designs - including Laser Kiwi - gained something of a cult following.
Media captionNew Zealand long-listed 40 designs - but not any of these Four designs were on the shortlist announced in September, but there was criticism that they were too similar or uncreative.

Three featured a fern design and the fourth the curving koru Maori symbol.
After a social media lobbying campaign, the government changed the rules so a fifth design - called Red Peak - also made the final cut.

To help people make a decision, the five flags are being put on display across the country.

Sets of flags are being given out free to communities who have five suitable flagpoles to display them from, so the public can see them in "real-life situations".

New Zealand begins voting in flag referendum - BBC News


This is a cracker! I missed Laser Kiwi the first time round.

5th one is not bad, the middle ones are shite

They can do a fine Hakka
snub an 'ole bushwacka
Surely a prole on the dole
Mandelbrot this role
Delegate to a waving slacker

or perhaps

I like the first two designs.


But surely laser kiwi should win!

Hopefully for the Kiwi's sake there will be a last minute entry that looks better? Agreed I'm not a Kiwi but non of the above look particularly like a statement of National pride

Originally Posted by VocalNeal

Hopefully for the Kiwi's sake there will be a last minute entry that looks better? Agreed I'm not a Kiwi but non of the above look particularly like a statement of National pride

Number 1 looks ok.

As long as it has no Maori crap on it

Originally Posted by Dragonfly94

As long as it has no Maori crap on it

That's nice and inclusive of you.