Final four alternative flag designs unfurled

See also: ASK ME ANYTHING: Flag panel chairman John Burrows

The panel “appointed to help facilitate [the] national conversation about the flag” in the leadup to a referendum on whether New Zealand’s ensign should be changed released its shortlist of four designs this morning.

In making its selection, the Flag Consideration Panel appears to have adopted a variation of Henry Ford’s motto that “any customer can have a car any colour that he wants so long as it is black” – three of the four alternatives prominently feature a silver fern.

They are (clockwise from top right): Silver Fern (Red, White and Blue) by Kyle Lockwood; Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue) by Kyle Lockwood; Koru by Andrew Fyfe; and Silver Fern (Black & White) by Alofi Kanter.

Coincidentally, Prime Minister John Key, for whom the flag referendum is a pet legacy project, has made it clear he favours a new flag featuring a silver fern – specifically Mr Lockwood’s Silver Fern (Red, White and Blue) version.

"My preference has been for the silver fern because I think the story of New Zealand is based around that,” he said. “In my mind a flag that is going to be successful is one that is going to be instantly recognisable."

In a further coincidence, All Black captain Richie McCall has also expressed his preference for a change of flag to one that features a silver fern.

"I think it's great that there is a debate about it,” he told 3 News earlier this week. “The All Blacks, you know, the silver fern is what it means to be a Kiwi, and wearing the black jersey, so I'm obviously biased in that regard. And, you know, if something like that was a change, I'd be more than happy with that."

Unlike previous occasions in which prominent Kiwis strayed out of the areas of expertise for which they are renowned, Mr Key didn’t suggest Mr McCaw stick to rugby. Instead the prime minister simply noted that “I think he’s a very influential and important New Zealander," adding – perhaps a little wistfully – “but he is just one voice.”

Timetable
The first referendum, in which enrolled voters get to rank the alternative options from their most to their least preferred, will be held from November 20 to December 11.

The second referendum, in which voters get to choose between the current New Zealand flag and the preferred alternative design selected in the first round, will be held from March 3 to 24 next year.

The results of both referendums are binding.

In the meantime, NBR member subscribers can vote in our non-binding poll on which – if any – of the alternatives they prefer.

Use MyNBR Tags to track people and companies – and receive key-word email alerts. Find out how here.