Kiwis Consider A Flag Of Their Own.

[icyfroth]

NEW Zealand Prime Minister John Key says he supports changing the national flag but would hold a referendum before any decision was made to ditch the existing banner.

The current flag has attracted criticism because one corner features the Union Jack, the symbol of former colonial power Britain, with the remainder consisting of four stars representing the Southern Cross constellation.

Mr Key said he believed the flag should display a silver fern, the national emblem already used by New Zealand sporting teams such as the All Blacks.

"I'd like to see a change," he told reporters. "But firstly it's not the single biggest issue that we as a country face. And secondly, even with those who want to change, there's not universal support for what we should change to.

"My personal view is, silver fern's the right way to go."

Mr Key said the New Zealand public was split 50-50 on adopting a new flag and he planned to sound out senior ministers about the prospect of holding a referendum on the issue to coincide with a general election due later this year.

He said Canada, another former colony of Britain, had never regretted adopting its distinctive maple leaf flag in 1965.

"I know it was a ferocious debate in Canada, but in the end would any Canadians look back and say they got it wrong with the maple leaf?"

Link To Article

I like the Silver Fern.

Is it time for Australia to change it's flag? What would we use as our emblem?

[punch*drunk]

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@*mrgrizz* wrote:

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@freakiness wrote:

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@*mrgrizz* wrote:

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@bluecat*dancing wrote:

I hit the kudo button instead of the reply button! I'd like to see the union jack replaced with the Aboriginal flag.

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what other country has a minority group represented on their flag?

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By that definition we already do.  Surely there are fewer British people here than Australian.

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omg......i have to admit i was wrong

 

i did not consider that

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My guess is that there are far more people here of British ancestry than there are of aboriginal ancestry, and a fair few of the aboriginals have at least as much, if not more, british dna in them than aboriginal.

If they were going to remove the union jack I would much rather see it replaced by some native flora or fauna. Most of which probably predates all human occupation of Australia and a flag should represent the country, not any one group of people, IMO.

I wonder what it would cost us to use the aboriginal flag, isnt it owned by someone?

[bluecat*dancing]

Okay, how about the National flag - minus the union jack - and the Aboriginal flag being flown side by side? They are both official flags of Australia as it is so simply remove the union jack.. Or replace it with the floral emblem of Australia.

[icyfroth]

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@bluecat*dancing wrote:

Okay, how about the National flag - minus the union jack - and the Aboriginal flag being flown side by side? They are both official flags of Australia as it is so simply remove the union jack.. Or replace it with the floral emblem of Australia.

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The Golden Wattle?

Not quite like the maple leaf or the silver fern, is it?

[punch*drunk]

Personally I would like to see just one flag for the nation, dont really understand why the aboriginals would want to be represented seperately. There would be nothing for them to disapprove of in a flag with stars and native flora/fauna.

[punch*drunk]

Kangaroo paw might be better than a wattle. A lot of the native flora is a bit intricate for a flag, too many little bits all together.

maybe a platypus 🙂

[bright.ton42]

The waratah could look striking and distinctive against the blue background.  

[punch*drunk]

Waratah was my first pick too. Just wonder how well it would come up if they just did it in one color which seems to be the norm for flags, it would probably need an outline to make it look right.

[j*oono]

I think a flag is best when children can draw it and don't need to have too much artistic talent.  

What about the Eureka flag where the Union Jack is.  We would end up with double stars but it would look good and easy for kids to copy.

[bright.ton42]

Maybe add some green leaves?

[mtnlane]

Given that the waratah is the state flower of NSW I suspect it's use might be inappropriate for the national flag - for those from other states at least.

On those grounds alone, you would have to also rule out Royal Bluebells (ACT), Sturt's Desert Rose (NT), Cooktown Orchid (Qld.), Sturt's Desert Pea (SA), Tasmanian Blue Gum (Tas), Pink Heath (Vic.) and the Red and Green Kangaroo Paw (WA) which I believe are the States individual floral emblems.