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{{About|the debate throughout history|the 2015–16 referendums|2015–2016 New Zealand flag referendums}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}{{short description|Debate about whether the New Zealand national flag should be changed}}{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=300 }}The New Zealand flag debate is a question over whether the national flag should be changed. For several decades, alternative designs have been proposed, with varying degrees of support. There is no consensus among proponents of changing the flag as to which design should replace the current one. Common criticisms of the existing form of the New Zealand flag are its similarity to the Australian flag and the inappropriateness of retaining the Union Jack in the design.WEB, ‘Calls for a new flag’,nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/calls-new-flag, NZ History Online, Ministry for Culture and Heritage, 6 June 2019, 22 Feb 2016, A series of polls conducted since the 1970s have shown that a majority of New Zealanders prefer the current flag.New Zealand’s Government held a two-stage binding referendum on a flag change in 2015 and 2016.WEB,www.beehive.govt.nz/release/first-steps-taken-towards-flag-referendum, New Zealand Government, First steps taken towards flag referendum, 29 October 2014, beehive.govt.nz, New Zealand Government, 31 October 2014, The four designs chosen as finalists faced criticism for their similarity and reliance on sporting iconography more closely associated with a subset of the population.NEWS,www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11506245, Flag designs a national disgrace, Puschmann, Karl, The New Zealand Herald, 1 September 2015, 17 May 2019, en-NZ, 1170-0777, The referendum was also criticised as an expensive distraction from more important political issues—especially because of the overt endorsement of two silver fern flag designs by Kyle Lockwood (one of which was the flag design at top right) by then-Prime Minister John Key—and for the amateur nature of the crowd-sourced entries.NEWS,www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11611452, Andrew Little: John Key’s flag has cost New Zealand $26m, Little, Andrew, The New Zealand Herald, 24 March 2016, 17 May 2019, en-NZ, 1170-0777, Voters chose to retain the current flag, by a vote of 56.6% to 43.1%.WEB,www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35888474, New Zealand votes to keep flag in referendum, BBC News, 24 March 2016, 24 March 2016, Turnout in the referendum was 67%—relatively low compared to the 74-80% turnout in general elections in the 21st century.WEB, General Elections 1853–2017 – Dates and Turnout,www.elections.org.nz/events/past-events/general-elections-1853-2017-dates-and-turnout, Elections, NZ Electoral Commission, 6 June 2019, The referendum, especially the alternative designs offered, was mocked by commentators in New Zealand and abroad,WEB,www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/62911595/null, NZ flag debate mocked by US show, Stuff.co.nz, en-NZ, 4 November 2014, 2019-05-17, and John Key named it as one of his main regrets when he announced his retirement from politics in 2016.NEWS,www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11760656, John Key resigns as Prime Minister of New Zealand, cites family reasons for leaving, Davison, Isaac, The New Zealand Herald, 2016-12-04, 2019-05-17, en-NZ, 1170-0777,

Arguments

Arguments for change

{{Image frame| 22–26 October 2020| Research New Zealand| 19%| 56%| 26%| 10–15 March 2016| UMR| 35%| 58%| 7%| 25–29 February 2016| UMR| 32%| 59%| 9%| February 2016| January 2016| UMR| 35%| 65%| 0%| This poll was conducted after the first referendum had been completed and the “Silver Fern with Black, White and Blue” design was selected as the alternative flag design for the second referendum. One in five were in favour of changing the national flag but disliked the proposed design of the second referendum and planned to vote against change. 80% of that group (i.e. 16% of the whole sample) saw the vote as a way to “send a message to John Key”. Sample size was 750 and margin of error was 3.6%.| 8 December 2015| HorizonPoll| 34%| 58%| 7%| November 2015| 8–16 September 2015| Reid Research| 25%| 69%| 6%| 14–24 August 2015| The New Zealand Herald| 23%| 53%| 24%| April 2015| The New Zealand Herald| 25%| 70%| 5%| September 2014| 6–16 March 2014| The New Zealand Herald| 40.6%| 52.6%| 6.8%| February 2014| Colmar Brunton| 28%| 72%| 0%| July 2013| 2012| University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington| 29.5%| 53.1%| 17.4%| January/February 2010| The New Zealand Herald| 52.3%| 44.4%| 3.3%| 2009| The New Zealand Herald| 25%| 62%| 13%| 2004| Colmar Brunton| 42%| 58%| 0%| Sample size unknown.| August 1999| National Business Review| 24%| 64%| 12%| When presented with the silver fern flag, the numbers changed to 33% supporting change and 60% against.

perrow = 2	caption1 = Flag of New Zealand	caption2 = Flag of Australia	height = 100}}}}Proponents for change argue that: The national flag is very similar to the flag of Australia and the two are often confused.WEB,www.nzflag.com/essay_sweeney.cfm, Eight Reasons To Change The New Zealand Flag, Brian, Sweeney, February 2004, Change the NZ Flag, NZ Flag.com Trust, 8 September 2011, dead,www.nzflag.com/essay_sweeney.cfm," title="web.archive.org/web/20111006184748www.nzflag.com/essay_sweeney.cfm,">web.archive.org/web/20111006184748www.nzflag.com/essay_sweeney.cfm, 6 October 2011, While this is not unique among world flags, it is exacerbated by Australia and New Zealand’s close ties and geographic proximity. For instance, in 1984 the Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke was greeted by New Zealand flags when visiting Ottawa,WEB,www.ausflag.com.au/monarchists_cant_tell.asp, Monarchists Prove Case for Australian Flag Change, Ausflag, and the former New Zealand prime minister John Key says he has been seated under the Australian flag in several international meetings.WEB,www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11353071, How about a bungee-jumping sheep? John Oliver mocks NZ flag, 4 November 2014, New Zealand Herald, 21 December 2014, As a derivative of the British Blue Ensign, it does not represent New Zealand’s current status as an independent, sovereign nation. Instead it alludes to New Zealand being a colony of the United Kingdom, which is anachronistic.WEB,www.mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/flags, New Zealand Heritage and Identity – Flags, Ministry for Culture and Heritage, 23 July 2010, 6 September 2011, REPORT, King, David, Regulatory Impact Statement: Considering Changing the New Zealand Flag,www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2014-11/ris-justice-flag-oct14.pdf, New Zealand Ministry of Justice, 2–3, 29 October 2014, The flag debate is sometimes connected with republicanism in New Zealand (i.e. replacing the ‘British’ monarch with a republican New Zealand head of state).NEWS, Hubbard, Anthony, Monarchy or republic? The debate for NZ’s head of state rages on,www.stuff.co.nz/national/100228632/monarchy-or-republic-the-debate-for-nzs-head-of-state-rages-on, 8 June 2018, Stuff.co.nz, 14 January 2018, en, 12 June 2018,web.archive.org/web/20180612152927/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/100228632/monarchy-or-republic-the-debate-for-nzs-head-of-state-rages-on, live, NEWS, Jones, Nicolas, Bill English: Flag vote shows republic a ways off,www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11613203, 8 June 2018, The New Zealand Herald, 28 March 2016, en-NZ, 12 June 2018,web.archive.org/web/20180612140015/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11613203, live, The national flag exclusively acknowledges those of British heritage whilst ignoring New Zealand’s Māori population and other ethnic groups.WEB,www.nzflag.com/opinion.cfm, Have Your Say, February 2004, Change the NZ Flag, NZ Flag.com Trust, 8 September 2011,www.nzflag.com/opinion.cfm," title="web.archive.org/web/20110927144219www.nzflag.com/opinion.cfm,">web.archive.org/web/20110927144219www.nzflag.com/opinion.cfm, 27 September 2011, dead, Some have called this inappropriate because the Treaty of Waitangi and Māori heritage are significant parts of New Zealand’s history, and because New Zealand is a multi-ethnic society with increasingly diverse demographics. For example, European New Zealanders () dropped from 92% of the population in the 1961 censusWEB,www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10678220, Collins, Simon, Ethnic mix changing rapidly, The New Zealand Herald, 5 October 2010, 21 December 2014, to 70.2% in the 2018 census, and included a greater diversity of European ethnic origins other than the British Isles.WEB,www.stats.govt.nz/news/new-zealands-population-reflects-growing-diversity, New Zealand’s population reflects growing diversity, 8 October 2019, 23 September 2019, www.stats.govt.nz, Statistics New Zealand, European New Zealanders no longer constitute the majority in Auckland,WEB, Age and sex by ethnic group (grouped total response), for census usually resident population counts, 2006, 2013, and 2018 Censuses (urban rural areas),nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE8318, 13 September 2020, nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz, 9 October 2020,nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE8318," title="web.archive.org/web/20201009205114nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE8318,">web.archive.org/web/20201009205114nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE8318, live, the largest city in New Zealand. Arguments against change Opponents to change argue that: The financial cost of a country changing its national flag outweighs any advantages.NEWS, Duncan, Garner,www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/68392405/duncan-garner-flag-this-irrelevant-debate-and-spend-26m-on-hungry-kids, Duncan Garner: Flag this irrelevant debate and spend $26m on hungry kids, Fairfax Media, The Dominion Post (Wellington), The Dominion Post, 9 May 2015, 25 August 2015, NEWS, Dylan, Thorne,www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11414778, Editorial: $25.7m flag is wrong legacy, NZME Publishing Limited, Bay of Plenty Times, 10 March 2015, 25 August 2015, NEWS,www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/zealand-changing-flag-150812192231100.html, New Zealand considers options to replace its flag, Al Jazeera Media Network, Al Jazeera, 12 August 2015, 25 August 2015, NEWS, Elle, Hunt,www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/11/new-zealands-prime-minister-john-key-wants-a-new-flag-does-anybody-else, New Zealand’s prime minister John Key wants a new flag. Does anybody else?, Guardian News and Media Limited, The Guardian, 10 August 2015, 25 August 2015, The national flag has not been changed for many years (it has “stood the test of time“).NEWS, The Daily Telegraph, The Telegraph, 28 January 2005, Paul, Chapman, Campaigners want British link removed from New Zealand flag,www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/1482248/Campaigners-want-British-link-removed-from-New-Zealand-flag.html, 19 March 2008, Many New Zealanders feel attached to the flag, because they grew up with it and because it has become part of the country’s history; these events are what give the flag its symbolic and emotional value rather than the intrinsic design itself.WEB, What is the importance of a Flag,www.nzflaginstitute.org/index_page0004.htm, New Zealand Flag Institute, 22 May 2021, unfit,www.nzflaginstitute.org/index_page0004.htm," title="web.archive.org/web/20081014013007www.nzflaginstitute.org/index_page0004.htm,">web.archive.org/web/20081014013007www.nzflaginstitute.org/index_page0004.htm, 14 October 2008, 2008, For example, all poll results from 2014 show that a large majority of the public were opposed to changing the flag or at least did not see it as a pressing issue (see {{slink||Opinion polling}} below). The flag is already representative of New Zealand. The Union Jack in the flag represents New Zealand’s strong past and present ties to the United Kingdom and its history as a part of the British Empire, and the Southern Cross represents its location in the South Pacific. People in the armies of New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth have fought and died under the Union Jack or the current flag for many years. Removing the Union Jack from the flag was considered by some to be disrespectful to war dead who fought with this flag as their standard. The first time the current flag was officially flown in battle was from HMS Achilles during the Battle of the River Plate in 1939;WEB,paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=AS19400223.1.9&e=-------10--31----0New+Zealand+ensign, The “Diggers’ ” flag, the New Zealand Ensign, flying at the masthead of Achilles during the naval battle, Auckland Star, LXXI, 46, 23 February 1940, Page 9, 3 November 2014, although the New Zealand national Blue Ensign flag was flown at Quinn’s Post during the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915.WEB,www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/quinns-post-flag, NZ History – Quinn’s Post Flag, 22 March 2015, Rhys Jones, former chief of the New Zealand Defence Force, noted that the flag had already been changed during New Zealand’s history, and a salient legacy of the Gallipoli campaign was representative of the nation’s independent identity.WEB,www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1506/S00066/flag-consideration-panel-answers-the-six-top-questions.htm, Flag Consideration Panel answers the six top questions, 6 June 2015, scoop.co.nz, Scoop (website), Scoop Media, 7 April 2015, History of debate World War II During World War II, Prime Minister Peter Fraser received suggestions to include a Māori emblem on the flag. He deferred the matter until after the war, but never brought it up again.WEB,www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/debates/debates/51HansD_20150312_00000012/new-zealand-flag-referendums-bill-%E2%80%94-first-reading, New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill — First Reading, 12 March 2015, parliament.nz, New Zealand Parliament, 5 April 2015, 1970s Debate on keeping or changing the New Zealand Flag started before May 1973, when a remit to change the flag, declare New Zealand a republic, and change the national anthem (then only “God Save the Queen“) was voted down by the Labour Party at their national conference.WEB, Moody, John,www.flaginstitute.org/pdfs/John%20Moody.pdf, Past Attempts to Change New Zealand’s Flag, 2001, The XIX International Congress of Vexillology,www.flaginstitute.org/pdfs/John%20Moody.pdf," title="web.archive.org/web/20110928065951www.flaginstitute.org/pdfs/John%20Moody.pdf,">web.archive.org/web/20110928065951www.flaginstitute.org/pdfs/John%20Moody.pdf, 28 September 2011, At this time, proposals for changing the flag were typically linked with republicanism.In November 1979, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Allan Highet, suggested that the design of the flag should be changed, and sought an artist to design a new flag with a silver fern on the fly. The proposal attracted little support.WEB, Flags of the World (website), Flags of the World, New Zealand – Proposals for a new flag,www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/nz!.html, 29 September 2006, 1 September 2007, 1980s In 1988, Minister of Foreign Affairs Russell Marshall made a call for a flag change, which also had little effect.The New Zealand Listener magazine held a flag design contest in 1989, attracting nearly 600 entries. Out of the seven semi-finalists, which included the national flag and the Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand, the national flag won with a minority vote of 45.6%. 1990s In February 1992, the former Minister of Māori Affairs, Matiu Rata, called for a flag change “to re-establish our national identity”.In 1998, Prime Minister Jenny Shipley backed Cultural Affairs Minister Marie Hasler’s call for the flag to be changed. Shipley, along with the New Zealand Tourism Board, supported the quasi-national silver fern flag, by using a white silver fern on a black background, along the lines of the Canadian Maple Leaf flag.Both of these events were met with opposition from the Returned Services’ Association. 2000s In 2004, the NZ Flag.com Trust was founded by businessman Lloyd Morrison with the aim of bringing about a non-binding referendum on the subject. Under New Zealand law, a referendum may be held on any issue if 10% of electors sign a petition which is presented to Parliament. The Trust launched their petition for such a referendum in 2005. Their campaign used a stylised silver fern flag designed by Cameron Sanders.In response to the petition, the New Zealand Flag Institute was founded to oppose the referendum campaign and promote the current flag, as well as to offer a more scholarly view of the flag. The Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association (RNZRSA), the New Zealand organisation for war veterans, did not openly back the current flag at its annual conference, passing a remit that “It is the view of RNZRSA that any change to the New Zealand Flag should be solely the prerogative of the people of New Zealand as determined by a substantial majority of electors in a referendum. It is also the association’s view that this matter should be taken out of the political arena.“BOOK, Annual Conference 2005: Remits, Royal New Zealand Returned Services’ Association, 16 July 2005, The petition attracted 100,000 signatures out of the required approximately 270,000 and was withdrawn in July 2005, well before the general election in September. The NZ Flag.com Trust cited public apathy to change as the main reason for withdrawing the petition.WEB,www.nzflag.com/press_040805.cfm, Editorial: Fervour for the flag carries the day, New Zealand Herald, 4 August 2005, 9 September 2011, dead,www.nzflag.com/press_040805.cfm," title="web.archive.org/web/20110927142637www.nzflag.com/press_040805.cfm,">web.archive.org/web/20110927142637www.nzflag.com/press_040805.cfm, 27 September 2011, 2010s File:Tino rangatiratanga flag on Harbour Bridge.jpg|thumb|In 2012, the NZ Transport Agency flew the Tino Rangatiratanga flag alongside the New Zealand flag on the Auckland Harbour Bridge on Waitangi DayWaitangi DayOn 5 August 2010, Labour list MP Charles Chauvel introduced a member’s bill for a consultative commission followed by a referendum on the New Zealand flag.WEB,www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1008/S00083/bill-advocates-consultative-debate-on-new-flag.htm, Bill advocates consultative debate on new flag, 5 August 2010, Scoop.co.nz, In January 2014, Prime Minister John Key floated the idea of a referendum on a new flag at the 2014 general election.NEWS,www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11193964, Key suggests vote on New Zealand flag, New Zealand Herald, 30 January 2014, 7 February 2014, Davison, Isaac, The proposal was met with mixed response.NEWS,www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/235378/flag-change-in-the-wind, Flag change in the wind, Radio New Zealand News, 6 February 2014, 7 February 2014, NEWS,www.odt.co.nz/news/queenstown-lakes/290308/opinions-vary-changing-nz-flag, Opinions vary on changing NZ flag, Otago Daily Times, 4 February 2014, 7 February 2014, Beech, James, In March, Key announced that, should the National government be re-elected for a third term, the government would hold a nationwide referendum within the next three years asking whether or not to change the flag design.NEWS,www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/10688990/New-Zealand-to-hold-referendum-on-changing-to-post-colonial-flag.html, New Zealand to hold referendum on changing to ‘post-colonial’ flag, The Telegraph, 11 March 2014, 11 March 2014, Chapman, Paul, London, Following National’s re-election later that year, the details of the referendum were announced. 2015–2016 referendums Shortly after the referendum announcement, party leaders reviewed draft legislation and selected candidates for a Flag Consideration Panel. The purpose of this group was to publicise the process, seek flag submissions and suggestions from the public, and decide on a final shortlist of options. Open consultation and design solicitation garnered 10,292 design suggestions from the public, later reduced to a longlist of 40 designs and then a shortlist of 4 designs to contend in the first referendum.WEB,www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/PROCESS-AT-A-GLANCE.pdf, Process at a glance, 29 October 2014, beehive.govt.nz, New Zealand Government, 31 October 2014,www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/PROCESS-AT-A-GLANCE.pdf," title="web.archive.org/web/20141031043628www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/PROCESS-AT-A-GLANCE.pdf,">web.archive.org/web/20141031043628www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/PROCESS-AT-A-GLANCE.pdf, 31 October 2014, dead, NEWS,www.nzherald.co.nz/flag-debate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500876&objectid=11413938, Govt budget allows almost $500,000 for a high-profile panel out of $25m cost to decide national symbol, Jones, Nicholas, 9 March 2015, The New Zealand Herald, 5 April 2015, The first referendum took place between 20 November and 11 December 2015 and asked, “If the New Zealand flag changes, which flag would you prefer?“WEB,www.elections.org.nz/events/referendums-new-zealand-flag-0, Referendums on the New Zealand flag, Electoral Commission, 21 November 2015,www.elections.org.nz/events/referendums-new-zealand-flag-0," title="web.archive.org/web/20151221002910www.elections.org.nz/events/referendums-new-zealand-flag-0,">web.archive.org/web/20151221002910www.elections.org.nz/events/referendums-new-zealand-flag-0, 21 December 2015, dead, Voters were presented with several options selected by the Flag Consideration Panel. The black, white, and blue silver fern flag by Kyle Lockwood advanced to the second referendum.The second referendum took place between 3 and 24 March 2016 and asked voters to choose between the selected alternative (the black, white and blue silver fern flag) and the existing New Zealand flag.WEB,www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/the-nz-flag-your-chance-to-decide/gallery/, Flag design gallery, govt.nz, New Zealand Government, 16 September 2015, dead,web.archive.org/web/20150905123627/https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/the-nz-flag-your-chance-to-decide/gallery/, 5 September 2015, WEB,www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2015/0008/latest/DLM6405360.html, New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill, Part 2, Subpart 4, Clause 20, 12 March 2015, legislation.govt.nz, Parliamentary Counsel Office (New Zealand), Parliamentary Counsel Office, 5 April 2015, The final decision was to retain the current flag, by a vote of 56.6% to 43.1%.WEB,www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35888474, New Zealand votes to keep flag in referendum, BBC News, 24 March 2016, 24 March 2016, Reaction Reception of the process and the official options were highly critical,WEB,www.nzherald.co.nz/flag-debate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500876&objectid=11613300, Political roundup: The 20 best analyses of the flag referendum result, Edwards, Bryce, 29 March 2016, 19 May 2016, The New Zealand Herald, with no great enthusiasm shown among the public.WEB,www.nzherald.co.nz/flag-debate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500876&objectid=11482801, Flag show at half mast, 18 July 2015, Trevett, Claire, The New Zealand Herald, 19 July 2015, NEWS, Matt, Nippert, 13 November 2015, Flag process: Was it a spin job?,www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11544460, The New Zealand Herald, 27 November 2015, WEB,www.wsws.org/en/articles/2015/12/29/flag-d29.html, Widespread abstention in New Zealand flag referendum, Price, Sam, 29 December 2015, World Socialist Web Site, 28 January 2016, WEB,www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/299874/flag-failure-where-did-it-go-wrong, Flag failure: Where did it go wrong?, Morris, Toby, 25 March 2016, 19 May 2019, Radio NZ, rnz.co.nz, From an aggregation of analyses, the consensus was that the referendum was “a bewildering process that seems to have satisfied few”. Political communications professor Claire Robinson labelled the debate an example of groupthink, writing: “I can’t figure how the panel can rationalise drawing on old symbols as a way of celebrating us as progressive.“NEWS, Robinson, Claire, 19 August 2015, Claire Robinson: Flag options an exercise in group think, en-NZ, The New Zealand Herald,www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/claire-robinson-flag-options-an-exercise-in-group-think/XHA6BCFSPSF526IHCFYB26DTRY/, 29 March 2021, 1170-0777, Prime Minister John Key said that he was disappointed by the decision to retain the current flag, while stating he was pleased that the country had a valuable discussion about what it stood for.WEB,www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/25/new-zealand-referendum-same-flag-what-was-that-about, Hunt, Elle, Ten months, 10,000 designs, no new flag for New Zealand. What was that about?, 25 March 2016, The Guardian, 19 May 2019, The failure of the referendum resulted in a loss of political prestige for Key. Opinion polling Two-option polls {| class=“wikitable“! Date! Conducted by! style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;” | For change! style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;” | Against change! style="background: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: white;” | Undecided! Notes
2020 New Zealand general election>2020 general election, approximately four years after the national flag referendum. It did not reference any particular alternative design. Sample size was 1003 respondents and margin of error was 3.1%.OUR NATIONAL IDENTITY >URL= HTTPS://RESEARCHNZ.COM/ASSETS/RESOURCES/NATIONALIDENTITY.PDF	WORK= RESEARCH NEW ZEALAND	ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20201204185554/HTTPS://RESEARCHNZ.COM/ASSETS/RESOURCES/NATIONALIDENTITY.PDF, 4 December 2020,
	PUBLISHER= UMR RESEARCH	ACCESS-DATE= 18 MARCH 2016	ARCHIVE-DATE=26 MARCH 2016,
	DATE=4 MARCH 2016	ACCESS-DATE=5 MARCH 2016,
Three (TV channel)>TV3/Reid Research| 30%| 70%| 0%
	PUBLISHER=HORIZONPOLL	ARCHIVE-DATE=22 JANUARY 2016,
Three (TV channel)>TV3/Reid Research| 28%| 65%| 7%		PUBLISHER=SUNDAY MORNING HERALD	ACCESS-DATE=15 DECEMBER 2015,
	LAST=TREVETT	WEBSITE=WWW.NZHERALD.CO.NZ	THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD >DATE=20 SEPTEMBER 2015, 20 September 2015,
	PUBLISHER=WWW.NZHERALD.CO.NZ	ACCESS-DATE=2 SEPTEMBER 2015,
	LAST=TREVETT	DATE=1 MAY 2015	ACCESS-DATE=1 MAY 2015,
Television New Zealand>TVNZ| 35%| 65%| 0%		AUTHOR=	WEBSITE=TVNZ.CO.NZ	TELEVISION NEW ZEALAND >ACCESS-DATE = 21 DECEMBER 2014,
Aucklanders and those in the youngest and oldest age brackets. Sample was 750 eligible voters and margin of error was 3.5%.HTTP://WWW.NZHERALD.CO.NZ/NZ/NEWS/ARTICLE.CFM?C_ID=1&OBJECTID=11222086	LAST=DAVISON	DATE=19 MARCH 2014	ACCESS-DATE=1 NOVEMBER 2014,
2014 New Zealand general election>2014 general election. Sample size unknown.HTTP://TVNZ.CO.NZ/NATIONAL-NEWS/THREE-QUARTERS-KIWIS-AGAINST-CHANGING-FLAG-POLL-5850358 >TITLE=THREE QUARTERS OF KIWIS AGAINST CHANGING FLAG – POLL	DATE=25 FEBRUARY 2014	PUBLISHER=TELEVISION NEW ZEALAND	ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20140301134800/HTTP://TVNZ.CO.NZ/NATIONAL-NEWS/THREE-QUARTERS-KIWIS-AGAINST-CHANGING-FLAG-POLL-5850358	URL-STATUS=DEAD,
Three (TV channel)>TV3| 61%| 39%| 0%		WORK=3 NEWS	URL-STATUS=DEAD	ARCHIVE-DATE=25 OCTOBER 2013,
	FIRST1=M. H.	FIRST2=S. J.	FIRST3=C. M.	FIRST4=S. A.	FIRST5=C.	FIRST6=S. J.	FIRST7=H. W.	FIRST8=H. J.	PUBLISHER=UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND	ACCESS-DATE=15 JULY 2018	ARCHIVE-DATE=24 MAY 2017,
	LAST=CHENG	DATE=12 FEBRUARY 2014	ACCESS-DATE=31 OCTOBER 2014,
	LOCATION=LONDON	THE DAILY TELEGRAPH >FIRST=PAUL	DATE=4 FEBRUARY 2010	ARCHIVE-DATE=11 FEBRUARY 2010	URL-STATUS=LIVE,

Three-option polls

{| class=“wikitable“! Date! Conducted by! style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;” | For change! style="background: rgb(129, 129, 0); color: white;” | Neutral! style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;” | Against change! style="background: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: white;” | Don’t know/Refused! Notes| October 2015| University of Auckland| 12%| 27%| 61%| 0%Wellingtonians and those with higher income, education and right-wing political affiliation. The youngest and oldest age brackets were most against change. Sample size was 838.HTTP://WWW.NZHERALD.CO.NZ/FLAG-DEBATE/NEWS/ARTICLE.CFM?C_ID=1500876&OBJECTID=11533644LAST=COLLINSDATE=23 OCTOBER 2015WORK=THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD, | September/October 2014| Research New Zealand| 19%| 37%| 43%| 1%DATE=5 NOVEMBER 2014WEBSITE=WWW.RESEARCHNZ.COMARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20150210075254/HTTP://RESEARCHNZ.COM/PDF/MEDIA%20RELEASES/RNZ%20MEDIA%20RELEASE%20-%2005-11-14%20NZ%20NATIONAL%20FLAG.PDFURL-STATUS=DEAD, | March 2014| Research New Zealand| 18%| 43%| 37%| 2%| Sample size was 500.| February 2014| Research New Zealand| 22%| 39%| 37%| 1%| Sample size was 500.| August 2011| Research New Zealand| 19%| 30%| 52%| 1%| Sample size was 1252.

Four-option polls

{| class=“wikitable“! Date! Conducted by! style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;” | Yes, change,to the silver fern! style="background: rgb(129, 129, 0); color: white;” | Yes, change,but to something else! style="background: rgb(129, 60, 31); color: white;” | Not botheredeither way! style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;” | No, we should not change! style="background: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: white;” | Don’t know! Notes| February 2014| Fairfax Media/Ipsos| 17.9%| 23.7%| 18.7%| 38.6%| 1.1%WORK=IPSOS.CO.NZARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20150731185220/HTTP://FIND.IPSOS.CO.NZ/FAIRFAX-IPSOS/14.02/POLL14.02.18/CHANGE-OF-FLAG.HTMLURL-STATUS=DEAD, 13 March 2015,

Other

In 2009, The New Zealand Herald surveyed various political party leaders and the twenty two members of the Order of New Zealand, with the results showing an even split.

Proposals

Silver fern flag

(File:Silver fern flag.svg|thumb|Common version of the silver fern flag)The silver fern flag is a popular unofficial flag of New Zealand. The silver fern itself is a recognised national symbol, and its current and historic usage including:

• The coat of arms of New ZealandWEB,www.mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/coat-arms, Coat of arms, Ministry for Culture and Heritage, 4 May 2011, 30 September 2011,
• The artwork on the cover of the New Zealand passportNEWS, Bywater, Thomas, New Zealand Passport potential design flaw a fern in travellers’ side,www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/new-zealand-passport-potential-design-flaw-a-fern-in-travellers-side/Z7LHBB3B5TGDG6E5W4DWGZKVCA/, 23 May 2021, The New Zealand Herald, 29 August 2019, en-NZ,
• The livery on aircraft operated by Air New ZealandNEWS, Bradley, Grant, Air NZ flies the silver fern,www.nzherald.co.nz/business/air-nz-flies-the-silver-fern/KL3XS2K65NMK3E5OYPFKOCKQIU/, 23 May 2021, The New Zealand Herald, 11 June 2013, en-NZ,
• The visual identity of several government bodies, including the logo of Immigration New Zealand
• The New Zealand one-dollar coinWEB,www.rbnz.govt.nz/notes_and_coins/coins/, New Zealand Coinage Specifications, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, 30 September 2011,rbnz.govt.nz/notes_and_coins/coins/," title="web.archive.org/web/20140517172127rbnz.govt.nz/notes_and_coins/coins/,">web.archive.org/web/20140517172127rbnz.govt.nz/notes_and_coins/coins/, 17 May 2014, dead,
• The Silver Ferns, New Zealand’s national netball teamWEB,www.mynetball.co.nz/silver-ferns.html, Silver Ferns, Netball New Zealand, 30 September 2011,
• The All Blacks, New Zealand’s national rugby teamWEB, Fitzgerald, Michael, The significance of the silver fern,www.tepapa.govt.nz/discover-collections/read-watch-play/maori/significance-silver-fern, tepapa.govt.nz, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, en, 2017-06-06, 23 May 2021,
• The Black Caps, New Zealand’s national cricket team
• New Zealand Army Second Division military insignia
• New Zealand military insignia during the Second Boer War (1899–1902)WEB,www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/new_zealand.htm, Digger History: Badges of New Zealand, Diggerhistory.info, 9 November 1915, 27 June 2010,
• All tombstones of fallen New Zealand soldiers maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission contain a silver fern symbol
• New Zealand athletes competing in the boycotted 1980 Moscow Olympics competed under the NZOC flag, which is the silver fern flag superimposed over the Olympic rings.1980 Moscow Olympics boycott. NZHistory.net.nz.
• The NZ Flag.com Trust in their 2005 campaignWEB,www.nzflag.com/example.cfm, A New Flag, NZ Flag.com, 30 September 2011,www.nzflag.com/example.cfm," title="web.archive.org/web/20110927142655www.nzflag.com/example.cfm,">web.archive.org/web/20110927142655www.nzflag.com/example.cfm, 27 September 2011, dead, dmy-all,

The proposal of replacing the national flag of New Zealand with the silver fern flag has been supported by then-Cultural Affairs Minister Marie Hasler, then-Prime Minister Jenny Shipley and the New Zealand Tourism Board in 1998, and then-Prime Minister John Key in 2010.NEWS,www.nzherald.co.nz/flag-debate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500876&objectid=10624890, Flag debate: John Key favours silver fern, The New Zealand Herald, 8 February 2010, Key later changed his preference to Kyle Lockwood’s Silver Fern (Red, White & Blue) design, due to the similarity of the silver fern flag with the Jihadist black flag, used by Islamic extremist groups such as ISIL. Amongst the public, polls have shown that the silver fern is the most preferred alternative design for a new national flag.The New Zealand Flag Institute objects to the silver fern flag, describing it as the logo of some of New Zealand’s national sporting teams, and accordingly, not representative of the nation itself.WEB,www.nzflaginstitute.org/index_page0058.htm, Why the Flag Should Not Change, New Zealand Flag Institute, 8 September 2011, 2005,www.nzflaginstitute.org/index_page0058.htm," title="web.archive.org/web/20081014013143www.nzflaginstitute.org/index_page0058.htm,">web.archive.org/web/20081014013143www.nzflaginstitute.org/index_page0058.htm, 14 October 2008, dead, This design originated from the All Blacks.WEB,teara.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-identity/page-7, New Zealand Identity, Barker, Fiona, 20 June 2012, 15 July 2018, The New Zealand Rugby Union has attempted to copyright claim silver fern flags.NEWS, Trevett, Claire, Hands off our silver fern: New Zealand Rugby Union warned off flag committee over its trademarked symbol,www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/hands-off-our-silver-fern-new-zealand-rugby-union-warned-off-flag-committee-over-its-trademarked-symbol/PLAIIUWMFR3U66ERYUUQWTL3AU/, 22 May 2021, The New Zealand Herald, 2 September 2015, en-NZ, {{clear}}

2015 referendum shortlist

On 1 September 2015, the Flag Consideration Panel announced the final four designs to be included in the first referendum.NEWS, Nicholas, Jones, 1 September 2015, NZ flag referendum: The final four designs revealed,www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11505765, The New Zealand Herald, 19 October 2015, On 23 September, Prime Minister John Key confirmed the Red Peak flag would be added as a fifth option in the flag referendum after growing popular support for the design to be added to the referendum options.{| class=“wikitable”! Image! Designer! width=“150px“| Name! Notes150px|border)| Alofi Kanter| Silver Fern (Black and White) A variation of the silver fern flag which included the silver fern and the black and white colour scheme.HTTPS://WWW.GOVT.NZ/ASSETS/DOCUMENTS/FLAGS/FOUR-ALTERNATIVES-ENGLISH.PDF>TITLE=FOUR ALTERNATIVESWEBSITE=GOVT.NZACCESS-DATE=1 SEPTEMBER 2015ARCHIVE-DATE=14 SEPTEMBER 2015DF=DMY-ALL, This design uses Tincture (heraldry)#Counterchanging and countercolouring and the fern design from the New Zealand Government’s Masterbrand logo.HTTP://THEBRANDLAB.ENZ.GOVT.NZ/DOWNLOADS/G_NZINC_BRAND_GUIDELINES.PDFDATE= JULY 2013, 1 September 2015, In the referendum, this design was ranked fourth out of the five shortlisted options. 150px|border)| Kyle Lockwood| Silver Fern (Red, White and Blue)Southern Cross represents the location of New Zealand in the antipodes. The blue represents New Zealand’s clear atmosphere and the Pacific Ocean. The red represents the country’s heritage and sacrifices made.HTTPS://WWW.GOVT.NZ/BROWSE/ENGAGING-WITH-GOVERNMENT/THE-NZ-FLAG-YOUR-CHANCE-TO-DECIDE/THE-FIVE-ALTERNATIVES/SILVER-FERN-RED-WHITE-AND-BLUE/ PUBLISHER=NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20151118030317/HTTPS://WWW.GOVT.NZ/BROWSE/ENGAGING-WITH-GOVERNMENT/THE-NZ-FLAG-YOUR-CHANCE-TO-DECIDE/THE-FIVE-ALTERNATIVES/SILVER-FERN-RED-WHITE-AND-BLUE/ URL-STATUS=DEAD, This proposal won a Wellington newspaper flag competition in July 2004 and appeared on TV3 in 2005 after winning a poll which included the present national flag.WEB,www.wix.com/silverfernflag/silverfernflag#!clients, Press & television coverage featuring our flag from NZ and around the world, Silverfernflag.co.nz, 17 November 2015, dead,www.wix.com/silverfernflag/silverfernflag#!clients," title="web.archive.org/web/20120119104052www.wix.com/silverfernflag/silverfernflag#!clients,">web.archive.org/web/20120119104052www.wix.com/silverfernflag/silverfernflag#!clients, 19 January 2012, In the referendum, this design was ranked second out of the five shortlisted options. It was criticised on aesthetic grounds by Hamish Keith, Paul Henry and John Oliver.WEB,www.radiolive.co.nz/Winning-design-of-new-NZ-flag-contest-slammed/tabid/506/articleID/47091/Default.aspx, Winning design of new NZ flag contest slammed, Lush, Martin, radiolive.co.nz, Radio Live, 6 June 2014, 28 December 2014, New Zealand Herald writer Karl Puschmann called it a design for those “sitting on the fence” who didn’t want much change and the National Business Review labelled it “amateur” and “dated”.WEB,www.nbr.co.nz/fail, Five reasons the flag-change campaign failed, 24 March 2016, The National Business Review, en-NZ, 17 May 2019, Members of the public compared it unfavourably to Weet-Bix packaging, “Kiwi Party Ware” plastic plate packaging, the National Basketball Association logo, or a merger of the Labour and National party logos.WEB,www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11506728, Flag critiqued for similarities to political parties’ logos, 2 September 2015, 2 September 2015, The New Zealand Herald, 150px|border)| Kyle Lockwood| Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue)| Variation of the above with black instead of red, and a different shade of blue. This general design was prime minister John Key’s preferred proposal.In the referendum, this design was ranked first out of the five shortlisted options. This flag received similar feedback to the red variation.150px|border)| Andrew Fyfe| Koru (Black)| Features a Māori koru pattern depicting an unfurling fern frond, traditionally representing new life, growth, strength and peace. In this flag it is meant to also resemble a wave, cloud and ram’s horn.In the referendum, this design was ranked fifth out of the five shortlisted options. When this design was revealed on the shortlist, the public immediately nicknamed it “Hypnoflag” via social media.WEB,www.stuff.co.nz/national/71632042/twitter-unhappy-with-the-final-four-new-zealand-flags, What Twitter said about the final four New Zealand flag options, Cooke, Henry, Fyers, Andy, 1 September 2015, Stuff.co.nz, Fairfax Media, 1 September 2015, 150px|border)| Aaron DustinRed Peak flag>Red PeakRangi and Papa (a Māori mythology>Māori creation myth) and the geography of New Zealand. It is reminiscent of tāniko patterns and tukutuku panelling.HTTPS://WWW.GOVT.NZ/BROWSE/ENGAGING-WITH-GOVERNMENT/THE-NZ-FLAG-YOUR-CHANCE-TO-DECIDE/GALLERY/DESIGN/24310>TITLE=RED PEAK BY AARON DUSTINACCESS-DATE=6 SEPTEMBER 2015ARCHIVE-DATE=10 SEPTEMBER 2015, dead, In the referendum, this design was ranked third out of the five shortlisted options. This design was not initially on the official shortlist but a social media campaign to add this design became successful on 23 September 2015.NEWS,www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/04/new-zealanders-offered-flag-shortlist-ask-can-we-have-this-one-instead, New Zealanders offered flag shortlist ask: can we have this one instead?, The Guardian, 4 September 2015, 6 September 2015, NEWS,www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11517757, Flag referendum: Red Peak design to be added as fifth option – John Key, The New Zealand Herald, 23 September 2015, 23 September 2015, The National Business Review noted that the design community generally preferred this design but it did not resonate with the public at large.

Other designs

An assortment of historical designs, and formal and informal proposals: {| class=“wikitable”! Image! Designer! Date! Notes150px|border)| James Busby| 1834| The flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand was the national flag of New Zealand when it first declared independence in 1835, until the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.150px|border)| Mike DavidsonACCESS-DATE=2024-02-08 LANGUAGE=EN-US, ACCESS-DATE=2024-02-08 LANGUAGE=EN-US, It was a finalist in the flag competition and became known for its originality and koru-style Union Jack.NARULA >FIRST=SVATI KIRSTEN TITLE=NEW ZEALAND’S NEW NATIONAL FLAG WILL BE ONE OF THESE 40 CROWDSOURCED DESIGNS ACCESS-DATE=2024-02-08 LANGUAGE=EN, POLL: BLACK, WHITE & BLUE FLAG DESIGN A FRONTRUNNER >URL=HTTPS://WWW.NZHERALD.CO.NZ/NZ/POLL-BLACK-WHITE-BLUE-FLAG-DESIGN-A-FRONTRUNNER/VFY36LRLNQ4R53P7S6ZVEUHFUE/ FIRST=ISAAC ACCESS-DATE=2024-02-08, The New Zealand Herald, 150px|border)| Clark Titman| 1967Tricolour (flag)>tricolour (red white and blue)150px|border)| D.A. Bale| Early 1980s| Blue with a double koru on a broad white vertical band. The double koru was established as the logo of Air New Zealand in 1973.150px|border)| Friedensreich Hundertwasser| 1983koru flag represents an uncurling fern frond in the form of a stylised koru, a traditional Māori carving pattern. This flag is occasionally seen around the country.HTTP://WWW.NZHISTORY.NET.NZ/MEDIA/PHOTO/HUNDERTWASSER-KORU-FLAGDATE=25 MAY 2011, Ministry of Culture and Heritage, 150px|border)| John Ansell, Kenneth Wang, Grant McLachlan| 1986, 2015The Black & Silver flag is based on a stylized version of the original silver ferns used in the emblems of the military and sports representative teams of the 1880s. John Ansell’s silver fern flag designs won him a Colenso Scholarship to New York in 1986 and in 1990 came second out of 600 alternative flag designs in The Listener (magazine)>The Listener contest to mark New Zealand’s sesquicentennial.HTTP://WWW.STUFF.CO.NZ/STUFF-NATION/ASSIGNMENTS/SHARE-YOUR-NEWS-AND-VIEWS/12327109/FLAG-DEBATE-IS-AN-OPPORTUNITY-FOR-NEW-ZEALAND>TITLE=FLAG DEBATE IS ‘AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW ZEALAND’LAST=ANSELLSTUFF.CO.NZ>DATE=1 AUGUST 2015, 150px|border)| James Dignan| 2002New Zealand Herald on 9 May 2002, at the time of the centenary of the current flag. It combines elements from the national flag, the Tino rangatiratanga flag and the silver fern flag. This combination looks to links with both the United Kingdom and Polynesia.HTTP://WWW.CRWFLAGS.COM/FOTW/FLAGS/NZ!.HTML#DIGNANACCESS-DATE=25 MAY 2011, HTTP://WWW.GRUTNESS.CO.NZ/WRITINGPAGES/FLAG.HTML>TITLE=JAMES DIGNAN – FLAG ARTICLESARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20110727085829/HTTP://WWW.GRUTNESS.CO.NZ/WRITINGPAGES/FLAG.HTMLURL-STATUS=DEAD, 150px|border)| Helen Clark| 2007Prime Minister of New Zealand>Prime Minister Helen Clark. She said that removing the Union Jack from the New Zealand flag was a possibility if people wanted to redesign the flag, leaving it as a “rather attractive Southern Cross.“HTTP://WWW.NZHERALD.CO.NZ/FLAG-DEBATE/NEWS/ARTICLE.CFM?C_ID=1500876&OBJECTID=10466418 > TITLE=CLARK STIMULATES FLAG DEBATE WITH CALL TO RUB OUT UNION JACK NEW ZEALAND HERALD > DATE=28 SEPTEMBER 2007, 16 July 2009, 150px|border)| James Bowman| 2015Koru Fern combines two iconic New Zealand symbols: the silver fern and the koru. It was one design that helped stimulate debate prior to official submissions and was submitted to the Flag Consideration Panel as an alternative design for the flag.HTTPS://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/E_JAMES_BOWMAN/16850197756/IN/ALBUM-72157649131493484/WORK=NORTH & SOUTH (NEW ZEALAND MAGAZINE)>DATE=APRIL 2015WORK=NEW ZEALAND LISTENERACCESS-DATE=21 MARCH 2015, HTTPS://WWW.GOVT.NZ/BROWSE/ENGAGING-WITH-GOVERNMENT/THE-NZ-FLAG-YOUR-CHANCE-TO-DECIDE/GALLERY/DESIGN/5622>TITLE=KORU FERNNEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT>ACCESS-DATE=23 MAY 2015ARCHIVE-DATE=11 AUGUST 2015, dead, || Lucy Gray| 2015Laser Kiwi flag features a silver fern and a Kiwi (bird)>kiwi shooting a laser beam from its eyes. The flag became a large social media phenomenon, and was used in Sketch comedy by comedians discussing the flag referendum and New Zealand in general, such as John Oliver.LASER KIWI FLAG {{!, NZHistory, New Zealand history onlinewebsite=nzhistory.govt.nz|access-date=2020-05-14}}150px|border)| Studio Alexander (Grant Alexander, Alice Murray, Thomas Lawlor, Jared McDowell)| 2015Wā kāinga/Home flag won the $20,000 top prize in the Morgan Foundation’s competition.Each coloured triangle represents a culture. They coexist around the white space.HTTP://DESIGNMYFLAG.NZ/MORGAN-FOUNDATION-FLAG-COMPETITION-JUDGING-RESULTS/ URL-STATUS=DEAD TITLE=MORGAN FOUNDATION FLAG COMPETITION JUDGING RESULTS WEBSITE=DESIGNMYFLAG.NZ ACCESS-DATE=15 SEPTEMBER 2015,

See also

• Australian flag debate
• Great Canadian flag debate
• Northern Ireland flags issue

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category|Proposed national flags of New Zealand}}

• Flag debates – New Zealand History Online, Ministry for Culture and Heritage

{{New Zealand flags}}{{New Zealand elections}}