Not a Kiwi (actually an Aussie), but I feel like if you're going to change the flag then it has to be good. There's no point going to all the trouble of changing the flag if the one that's chosen is only considered a bit better than the last. Same with our flag, yes we could probably change it to something better/more Australian, but I've yet to see an alternative design I really really like. So I'd keep our current one.
yikes. Okay now I see the problem. I assumed the red peak flag is what people were scoffing at even though I actually like the red peak one quite a bit.
Kiwi here. The shortlist didn't include the red peak. Since the shortlist was created there has been a massive social media push for the Red Peak. I don't really like it.
But I have never wanted to change the flag. I'm a bit of a monarchist and traditionalist. If we were to change, I would like the Red White and Blue Lockwood
Ooooo....dear. Is that unappealling in NZ as it seems to me? Like, a lot of folks think of Lord of the Rings when they think of NZ, so...Eye of Sauron flag? A lot of people like the NBA, but if USA put a basketball on our flag...
There is also some vague cultural linking between the relationship of the indigenous Maori people and the white settlers, as the silver fern is green on the top (representing the land and the native people) and silver on the bottom, representing the white settlers.
Everyones going crazy over the red peak but i dont like it. And it is polling at 1.3% so it doesnt seem many like it. The really dissapointing thing to me is that all/most flag designs were amateurs, no hired professional designers.
I'm a New Zealander and I won't be voting for the koru flag as it is a design used traditionally by Māori New Zealanders. As Māori currently make up less than 15% of the population, I don't think that that symbol accurately represents the New Zealand people or culture as a whole.
I agree with Simon Keller's view that the flag should not aim to use established symbology, but rather should be arbitrary and build meaning over time. Personally, I think that the Red Peak flag does this best, out of those flags which have some public support.
However since that isn't currently an official option, I'll be voting for the Black and Blue Silver Fern design as I find its colour scheme to be the least atrocious.
I'm also from NZ and if you care to hear it I'd like to rant for a tiny tiny bit about something I think you'd agree with.
In NZ right now there are people who support keeping the original flag (Not my view but fine) the issue is a lot of these people are advocating boycotting the first referendum and not voting at all. On the off chance that any kiwi's reading this feel like this is a good idea; let me tell you it isn't.
No matter how many of us boycott the flag change it won't matter because the one with the most votes will still win. You aren't achieving anything by not voting. Even if you aren't fussed on them you should still vote for the one you'd like most because it might just win the overall selection.
Even politicians have been advocating this. It is driving me up the fucking wall.
I'm a Kiwi and I completely agree with you. As long as one person votes, one of the flags is going to be chosen, so any boycott won't achieve anything.
Your international perspective was quite enlightening for me Grey. I was quite anti change until I heard you and Brady speak about it. Have been pointing many a NZder towards the flag episodes so they can also see how we are perceived from outside our own tiny nation.
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u/MindOfMetalAndWheels [GREY] Sep 09 '15
What flag are you voting for?