www.nzflag.com say it's time to change our flag, and I agree. www.nzflag.com is run by the NZFlag.com Trust, a charity established to focus attention on the national identity of New Zealanders, as represented by our flag.
The Trust is seeking a referendum asking New Zealanders whether they would like their flag to be changed. In their words:
This site is intended to stimulate debate about the New Zealand Flag. We want all New Zealanders to ask whether the current flag represents our country as we see ourselves today? In our view, at the same time as respecting our history, it should also represent the country today and our vision for our future. Does it portray the image we want to give of New Zealand internationally? Most importantly, does it inspire us?
The site showcases a number of potential designs, but the promoted favourite is a stylised Silver Fern that "is the strongest and most representative symbol of all New Zealanders". Simple, elegant, and emotive for any Kiwi—it says "home":
Reasons given for a new New Zealand flag include:
- Because the current Union Jack-based flag does not resonate with New Zealanders, it is comparatively infrequently flown;
- Test after test shows that the current New Zealand flag is immediately confused with flags of other countries, especially Australia;
- As an export country competing on the world stage, we need our flag to be strongly competitive from a brand/ symbol/icon point of view;
- A flag needs to connect emotionally;
- In today's environment the current Union Jack-based flag is simply bad design, poorly composed, a muddle of ideas, thematically derivative and unoriginal;
- A new flag can honour our past;
- The job of a flag is to instantly signal the country of origin in the simplest, quickest, most potent manner. This means utilising a single powerful image rather than several elements and thereby diluting the potency of the symbol;
- A new flag gives energy and a sense of independence and self determination in this new millennium.
The site features a number of celebrity endorsements and essays that expand on these ideas.
Convinced a referendum is a good idea? Download a petition form, collect signatures, and return it to the address on the form before 1 May 2005.
I like the black one. It's nice. But I prefer the red-blue one with silver fern in the border and southern cross.
Btw, I'm next to you. :)
Can anyone tell me the procedure for submitting a flag design.
I am a NZ artist living overseas and would like my flag to be considered. It is a lot more appropriate than the majority of the designs posted on the nzflag website.
Any help would be hugely appreciated.
Thanks
JP
JP, why not try the "Contact Us" link on http://www.nzflag.com?
Bruce mate, I have emailed them on 2 seperate occasions!
No replies.
JP, nzflag.com would do anything with your design unless you get mass media coverage for it. Until it's popular..
If you're talking about sending it to the gov't.. as they haven't asked for submissions they won't really do anything either..
Check my design out and tell me what you think.
Where can I find your design Clint?
JP, click on the name "Clint" to go to his website.
I finally visited the NZFlag website and read through it.
I have to say my favourite endorsement came from Ian Mune:
"And if we want the stars, we better get in quick or the Aussies will pinch it."
It's a little bit too much like the NZI Insurance advert currently running on TV here, but strangely enough it strikes exactly the same chord.
I have to admit to liking the Tino Rangatiratanga flag design. The only negative thing about it is the connotation that it is used for Maori sovereignty and not for national unity.
My other choice would be the Aotearoa Flag - Southern Cross by Jeffy James. The colours feel right, it includes the Southern Cross, and it includes the Koru. And it feel dynamic.
(Just my two cents worth.)
Thanks Lynn. I agree a koru is a good candidate for a single, simple symbol with which all NZers should be able to identify. I'm very much in agreement with the nzflag.com folks that simplicity is the way to go (as per the iconic flags of Switzerland, Japan, Canada, etc). Too many of the designs I've seen attempt to pull togehter combinations of multiple elements: the Imperial (British) colours, the Southern Cross, ferns, korus, colours that are supposed to represent the Nation or Maoridom. They end up looking too busy.
If it wasn't a trademark, I'd be tempted to run with the Air New Zealand logo!
This is absolutely ridiculous. As a NZ citizen I feel that my present and future are bound very tightly with my past. I am proud of my past and my countries history, and I like the fact that this is recognised in our flag.
By changing the flag you are changing our history, it's not something we should sweep away, we should be proud of what we have become, whilst honouring our past. A vast number of us wouldn't even be here if it were not for those historical beginnings.
My two cents is that we have to look at the reasons for why we want to change the flag. As an expat in China I m a little tired of hearing how similar our flag is to Australia but as "Wellingtonsprodiacalson" alluded to, we can't get rid of our flag for that reason. This flag is what our grandparents fought for and it is our history that has mae us who we are. We cannot forget that.
However the second reason is our relationship with the UK. Currently through technicalities we still recognise the Queen as our Head of State as the governor general is her Majesties representative. We should not remove the Union Jack from the flag if we still honour the Queen. To me it sounds like a contradiction. I think the first arguement should be whether we remove ourselves officially from the UK. Then can we claim a new flag, and with that, a new identity.
But do we really want the fuss???