New Zealand flag debate explained

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.[1] A series of polls conducted since the 1970s have shown that a majority of New Zealanders prefer the current flag.[1]

New Zealand's Government held a two-stage binding referendum on a flag change in 2015 and 2016.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] Voters chose to retain the current flag, by a vote of 56.6% to 43.1%.[5] Turnout in the referendum was 67%—relatively low compared to the 74-80% turnout in general elections in the 21st century.[6] The referendum, especially the alternative designs offered, was mocked by commentators in New Zealand and abroad,[7] and John Key named it as one of his main regrets when he announced his retirement from politics in 2016.[8]

Arguments

Arguments for change

Proponents for change argue that:

Arguments against change

Opponents to change argue that:

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.[29]

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.[30] 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.[31]

1980s

The Austrian-born surrealist visual artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser designed his titular koru flag in 1983. The flag design was one of the earliest serious contenders and was cause of much media attention.[32] [33] Twenty-five Members of Parliament expressed support for the flag when it was publicly unveiled in 1986, including then-prime minister David Lange.[34]

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.[30]

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."[35]

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.[36]

2010s

On 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.[37]

In January 2014, Prime Minister John Key floated the idea of a referendum on a new flag at the 2014 general election.[38] The proposal was met with mixed response.[39] [40] 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.[41] Following National's re-election later that year, the details of the referendum were announced.[2]

2015–2016 referendums

See main article: 2015–2016 New Zealand flag 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.[42] [43]

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?"[44] [2] 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.[45] [46] The final decision was to retain the current flag, by a vote of 56.6% to 43.1%.[47]

Reaction

Reception of the process and the official options were highly critical,[48] with no great enthusiasm shown among the public.[49] [50] [51] [52] From an aggregation of analyses, the consensus was that the referendum was "a bewildering process that seems to have satisfied few".[48] 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."[53]

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.[54] The failure of the referendum resulted in a loss of political prestige for Key.[54]

Opinion polling

Two-option polls

DateConducted byFor changeAgainst changeUndecidedNotes
22–26 October 2020Research New Zealand19%56%26%This online poll was conducted just after the 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%.[55]
10–15 March 2016UMR35%58%7%This poll was framed around the second referendum's "Silver Fern with Black, White and Blue" design as the alternative flag. National voters were more likely to vote for change than those affiliated with other political parties. Younger voters were most against change. Sample size was 750 and margin of error was 3.6%.[56]
25–29 February 2016UMR32%59%9%This poll was framed around the second referendum's "Silver Fern with Black, White and Blue" design as the alternative flag. National voters were more likely to vote for change than those affiliated with other political parties. Women were more likely to be against change than men. Sample was 750 eligible voters and margin of error was 3.6%.[57]
February 2016TV3/Reid Research30%70%0%16% of those "against change" were in support of change but did not support the proposed flag design of the second referendum.[58]
January 2016UMR35%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 2015HorizonPoll34%58%7%The poll identified "Silver Fern with Black, White and Blue" and "Silver Fern with Red, White and Blue" as the most popular designs out of the referendum shortlist. Sample size was 2075 and margin of error was 2.2%.[59]
November 2015TV3/Reid Research28%65%7%Sample size and margin of error unknown.[60]
8–16 September 2015Reid Research25%69%6%The question was asked specifically in relation to the referendum shortlist designs. Sample was 1000 eligible voters and margin of error was 3.1%.[61]
14–24 August 2015The New Zealand Herald23%53%24%This poll was conducted after the referendum shortlist had been revealed. Women were more likely to be against change (61%) compared to men (44%). Sample was 750 eligible voters and margin of error was 3.6%.[62]
April 2015The New Zealand Herald25%70%5%This poll was conducted after the flag referendum legislation passed in parliament and its details were finalised. 80% agreed that the referendums should first ask if the public wants a change before presenting other designs. When asked about specific design elements, a plurality of 45% preferred the silver fern, followed by the southern cross (18%). Sample was 750 eligible voters and margin of error was 3.6%.[63]
September 2014TVNZ35%65%0%Sample size was "almost 1000".[64]
6–16 March 2014The New Zealand Herald40.6%52.6%6.8%When asked about specific design elements, a plurality of 42.9% preferred the silver fern, followed by the koru. Resistance to change was higher amongst women, Aucklanders and those in the youngest and oldest age brackets. Sample was 750 eligible voters and margin of error was 3.5%.[65]
February 2014Colmar Brunton28%72%0%The poll also found that 85% wanted a change to be decided by the public rather than the government, and that only 2% thought that changing the flag was an important issue in the 2014 general election. Sample size unknown.[66]
July 2013TV361%39%0%Sample size unknown.[67]
2012University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington29.5%53.1%17.4%Support for a flag change was highest among Green Party voters (49% in favour) and lowest among National Party voters (26% in favour). Sample size was 12182.[68]
January/February 2010The New Zealand Herald52.3%44.4%3.3%When asked about specific design elements, a majority of 52.5% preferred the silver fern, followed by the kiwi (18%), koru (13%), southern cross (12.5%) and tiki (1%). Aucklanders and those in the youngest and oldest age brackets expressed significantly more resistance to change. Sample size was 600 and margin of error was 4%.[69]
2009The New Zealand Herald25%62%13%Sample size unknown.[70]
2004Colmar Brunton42%58%0%Sample size unknown.
August 1999National Business Review24%64%12%When presented with the silver fern flag, the numbers changed to 33% supporting change and 60% against.

Three-option polls

DateConducted byFor changeNeutralAgainst changeDon't know/RefusedNotes
October 2015University of Auckland12%27%61%0%The 27% figure represents the response "depends on the design". Support for changing the flag was higher amongst males, 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.[71]
September/October 2014Research New Zealand19%37%43%1%Younger respondents were significantly against change compared to older respondents, but no other differences existed between demographic groups (gender, income, location and ethnicity). Sample size was 1001.[72]
March 2014Research New Zealand18%43%37%2%Sample size was 500.
February 2014Research New Zealand22%39%37%1%Sample size was 500.
August 2011Research New Zealand19%30%52%1%Sample size was 1252.

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

See main article: 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 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.[83] 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.[11] Amongst the public, polls have shown that the silver fern is the most preferred alternative design for a new national flag.[63] [65] [69]

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.[84] This design originated from the All Blacks.[85] The New Zealand Rugby Union has attempted to copyright claim silver fern flags.[86]

2015 referendum shortlist

On 1 September 2015, the Flag Consideration Panel announced the final four designs to be included in the first referendum.[87] 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.

ImageDesignerNameNotes
Alofi KanterSilver Fern (Black and White)A variation of the silver fern flag which included the silver fern and the black and white colour scheme.[88] This design uses counterchanging and the fern design from the New Zealand Government's Masterbrand logo.[89]
In the referendum, this design was ranked fourth out of the five shortlisted options.
Kyle LockwoodSilver Fern (Red, White and Blue)The silver fern represents the growth of the nation and the 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.[90]

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.[91]

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.[92] 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".[93] 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.[94]

Kyle LockwoodSilver 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.

Andrew FyfeKoru (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.[95]

Aaron DustinRed PeakThis design was inspired by the story of Rangi and Papa (a Māori creation myth) and the geography of New Zealand. It is reminiscent of tāniko patterns and tukutuku panelling.[96]

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.[97] [98] 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:

ImageDesignerDateNotes
James Busby1834The 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.
Mike Davidson2000[99] "Black Jack" was designed by art director Mike Davidson in 2000.[100] It was a finalist in the flag competition and became known for its originality and koru-style Union Jack.[101] [102]
Clark Titman1967A simple proposal of a tricolour (red white and blue)
D.A. BaleEarly 1980sBlue with a double koru on a broad white vertical band. The double koru was established as the logo of Air New Zealand in 1973.
Friedensreich Hundertwasser1983The koru 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.[103]
John Ansell, Kenneth Wang, Grant McLachlan1986, 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 contest to mark New Zealand's sesquicentennial.[104]
James Dignan2002This proposal was displayed in the New 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.[105] [106]
Helen Clark2007An informal proposal by 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."[107]
James Bowman2015The Koru 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.[108] [109] [110]
Lucy Gray2015A submission to the Flag Consideration Panel, the Laser Kiwi flag features a silver fern and a kiwi shooting a laser beam from its eyes. The flag became a large social media phenomenon, and was used in comedy routines by comedians discussing the flag referendum and New Zealand in general, such as John Oliver.[111]
Studio Alexander (Grant Alexander, Alice Murray, Thomas Lawlor, Jared McDowell)2015The Wā 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.[112]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'Calls for a new flag' . NZ History Online . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . 6 June 2019 . 22 Feb 2016.
  2. Web site: First steps taken towards flag referendum . New Zealand Government . 29 October 2014 . beehive.govt.nz . New Zealand Government . 31 October 2014.
  3. News: Flag designs a national disgrace. Puschmann. Karl. The New Zealand Herald. 1 September 2015. 17 May 2019. en-NZ. 1170-0777.
  4. News: 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.
  5. Web site: New Zealand votes to keep flag in referendum . BBC News . 24 March 2016 . 24 March 2016.
  6. Web site: General Elections 1853–2017 – Dates and Turnout. Elections . NZ Electoral Commission . 6 June 2019.
  7. Web site: NZ flag debate mocked by US show . . en-NZ . 4 November 2014 . 2019-05-17.
  8. News: 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.
  9. Web site: Eight Reasons To Change The New Zealand Flag. Brian. Sweeney. February 2004. NZ Flag.com Trust. 8 September 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111006184748/http://www.nzflag.com/essay_sweeney.cfm. 6 October 2011.
  10. Web site: Monarchists Prove Case for Australian Flag Change. Ausflag.
  11. Web site: How about a bungee-jumping sheep? John Oliver mocks NZ flag. 4 November 2014. . New Zealand Herald. 21 December 2014.
  12. Web site: New Zealand Heritage and Identity – Flags. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 23 July 2010. 6 September 2011.
  13. King . David . Regulatory Impact Statement: Considering Changing the New Zealand Flag . New Zealand Ministry of Justice . 2–3 . 29 October 2014.
  14. News: Hubbard . Anthony . Monarchy or republic? The debate for NZ's head of state rages on . 8 June 2018 . . 14 January 2018 . en . 12 June 2018 . https://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 .
  15. News: Jones . Nicolas . Bill English: Flag vote shows republic a ways off . 8 June 2018 . The New Zealand Herald . 28 March 2016 . en-NZ . 12 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140015/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11613203 . live .
  16. Web site: Have Your Say. February 2004. NZ Flag.com Trust. 8 September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110927144219/http://www.nzflag.com/opinion.cfm. 27 September 2011. dead.
  17. Web site: Ethnic mix changing rapidly. Collins. Simon. The New Zealand Herald. 5 October 2010. 21 December 2014.
  18. Web site: New Zealand's population reflects growing diversity. 8 October 2019. 23 September 2019. www.stats.govt.nz. Statistics New Zealand.
  19. Web site: Age and sex by ethnic group (grouped total response), for census usually resident population counts, 2006, 2013, and 2018 Censuses (urban rural areas). 13 September 2020. nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz. 9 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201009205114/http://nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE8318. live.
  20. News: Duncan . Garner . Duncan Garner: Flag this irrelevant debate and spend $26m on hungry kids . Fairfax Media . . 9 May 2015 . 25 August 2015.
  21. News: Dylan . Thorne . Editorial: $25.7m flag is wrong legacy . NZME Publishing Limited . Bay of Plenty Times . 10 March 2015 . 25 August 2015.
  22. News: New Zealand considers options to replace its flag . Al Jazeera Media Network . Al Jazeera . 12 August 2015 . 25 August 2015.
  23. News: Elle . Hunt . 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.
  24. News: The Telegraph. 28 January 2005. Paul. Chapman. Campaigners want British link removed from New Zealand flag . 19 March 2008.
  25. Web site: What is the importance of a Flag . . 22 May 2021 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20081014013007/http://www.nzflaginstitute.org/index_page0004.htm . 14 October 2008 . 2008.
  26. Web site: 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.
  27. Web site: NZ History – Quinn's Post Flag. 22 March 2015.
  28. Web site: Flag Consideration Panel answers the six top questions. . 6 June 2015. scoop.co.nz. Scoop Media. 7 April 2015.
  29. Web site: New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill — First Reading. . 12 March 2015. parliament.nz. New Zealand Parliament. 5 April 2015.
  30. Web site: Moody. John. Past Attempts to Change New Zealand's Flag. 2001. The XIX International Congress of Vexillology. https://web.archive.org/web/20110928065951/http://www.flaginstitute.org/pdfs/John%20Moody.pdf. 28 September 2011.
  31. Web site: Flags of the World. New Zealand – Proposals for a new flag. 29 September 2006. 1 September 2007.
  32. https://www.flaginstitute.org/pdfs/John%20Moody.pdf
  33. 'New flag gets airing', The Press, 18 July 1986, p.1
  34. 'This green koru design, drawn by a Bay of Islands artist, Mr Friedrich Hundertwasser, has been oresented to members of Parliament for approval as a new national flag. Twenty-five of them supported the design including the Prime Minister, Mr Lange. The koru is a bush green with a background representing a long, white cloud. The flag design is on display at the Auckland City Art Gallery'. The Press, 2 July 1986, p. 46
  35. Book: Annual Conference 2005: Remits . . 16 July 2005.
  36. Web site: Editorial: Fervour for the flag carries the day. New Zealand Herald. 4 August 2005. 9 September 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110927142637/http://www.nzflag.com/press_040805.cfm. 27 September 2011.
  37. Web site: Bill advocates consultative debate on new flag. 5 August 2010. Scoop.co.nz.
  38. News: Key suggests vote on New Zealand flag . New Zealand Herald . 30 January 2014 . 7 February 2014 . Davison, Isaac.
  39. News: Flag change in the wind . Radio New Zealand News . 6 February 2014 . 7 February 2014.
  40. News: Opinions vary on changing NZ flag . . 4 February 2014 . 7 February 2014 . Beech, James.
  41. News: New Zealand to hold referendum on changing to 'post-colonial' flag . The Telegraph . 11 March 2014 . 11 March 2014 . Chapman . Paul . London.
  42. Web site: Process at a glance. . 29 October 2014. beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. 31 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141031043628/http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/PROCESS-AT-A-GLANCE.pdf. 31 October 2014. dead.
  43. News: 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.
  44. Web site: Referendums on the New Zealand flag . Electoral Commission . 21 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151221002910/http://www.elections.org.nz/events/referendums-new-zealand-flag-0 . 21 December 2015 . dead .
  45. Web site: Flag design gallery . . govt.nz . New Zealand Government . 16 September 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150905123627/https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/the-nz-flag-your-chance-to-decide/gallery/ . 5 September 2015 .
  46. Web site: New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill, Part 2, Subpart 4, Clause 20. . 12 March 2015. legislation.govt.nz. Parliamentary Counsel Office. 5 April 2015.
  47. Web site: New Zealand votes to keep flag in referendum . BBC News . 24 March 2016 . 24 March 2016.
  48. Web site: Political roundup: The 20 best analyses of the flag referendum result. Edwards. Bryce. 29 March 2016. 19 May 2016. The New Zealand Herald.
  49. Web site: Flag show at half mast . 18 July 2015 . Trevett . Claire . The New Zealand Herald . 19 July 2015.
  50. News: Matt . Nippert . 13 November 2015 . Flag process: Was it a spin job? . The New Zealand Herald . 27 November 2015.
  51. Web site: Widespread abstention in New Zealand flag referendum . Price . Sam . 29 December 2015 . . 28 January 2016 .
  52. Web site: Flag failure: Where did it go wrong?. Morris. Toby. 25 March 2016. 19 May 2019. Radio NZ. rnz.co.nz.
  53. News: Robinson. Claire. 19 August 2015. Claire Robinson: Flag options an exercise in group think. en-NZ. The New Zealand Herald. 29 March 2021. 1170-0777.
  54. Web site: Ten months, 10,000 designs, no new flag for New Zealand. What was that about?. Hunt. Elle. 25 March 2016. The Guardian. 19 May 2019.
  55. Web site: Our National Identity . Research New Zealand . Research New Zealand . 5 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201204185554/https://researchnz.com/assets/resources/NationalIdentity.pdf. 4 December 2020.
  56. Web site: NZ Flag Referendum Update, March 2016, Quantitative Survey . UMR Research . Scoop.co.nz . 18 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160326204857/http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1603/UMR_Flag_ReferendumMar2016MediaRelease_FINAL.pdf. 26 March 2016.
  57. Web site: Current flag still preferred – poll. 4 March 2016. The New Zealand Herald. 5 March 2016.
  58. Web site: Poll indicates flag unlikely to change – National – NZ Herald News.
  59. Web site: Close voting result likely between the colourful silver fern flags. HorizonPoll. https://web.archive.org/web/20160122022149/http://horizonpoll.co.nz/page/423/close-voting. 22 January 2016.
  60. Web site: New Zealand Flag referendum result: Voters choose Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue). Sunday Morning Herald. 11 December 2015. 15 December 2015.
  61. News: Most Kiwis don't want flag change – poll . Trevett . Claire . www.nzherald.co.nz . . 20 September 2015 . 20 September 2015.
  62. Web site: NZ flag referendum: The final four designs revealed. www.nzherald.co.nz. 1 September 2015. 2 September 2015.
  63. News: Flag Poll Message Clear: Leave it Alone . Trevett . Claire . 1 May 2015 . The New Zealand Herald . 1 May 2015.
  64. News: Two-thirds against changing flag, poll shows . . 27 September 2014 . tvnz.co.nz . . 21 December 2014.
  65. News: Kiwis Back Union Jack Flag . Davison . Isaac . 19 March 2014 . The New Zealand Herald . 1 November 2014.
  66. News: Three quarters of Kiwis against changing flag – poll . . 25 February 2014 . tvnz.co.nz . Television New Zealand . 31 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140301134800/http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/three-quarters-kiwis-against-changing-flag-poll-5850358. 1 March 2014. dead.
  67. News: The Vote: The result . . 16 July 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131025134518/http://www.3news.co.nz/The-Vote-The-result/tabid/1788/articleID/305338/Default.aspx . 25 October 2013 .
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