Prime Minister John Key has said he would like to see the New Zealand flag changed to a silver fern with a black background and would discuss with his cabinet colleagues whether to hold a referendum at the 2014 election.
He agreed it was not the most important issue before the electorate, but
"We'll have a discussion with our senior ministers, and say 'Is there any appetite to progress that?'. And if the answer's no then we'll park it up," Key told reporters in Wellington.
Government coalition partner, United Future leader and Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne, said he also favoured a change of flag and a referendum.
“Our flag must represent all New Zealanders and this election is a good time to ask whether it continues to do so or not,” Dunne said, adding he would like to remove the Union Jack from the existing flag.
Green Co-Leader Russel Norman said he wanted to see the flag changed, but said any change should be driven by the public at large, rather than cabinet.
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce said he looked forward to a cabinet discussion on the issue.
Labour Internal Affairs spokesman Trevor Mallard said Labour supported suggestions about a referendum on the flag and "the time has come for a change."
“We changed our national anthem from ‘God Save the Queen’ on a gradual, optional basis and I think that process worked,” Mallard said, adding he supported the likes of the Returned Services Association being able to keep flying the current flag.
(Adds comments from ministers, others)
29 Comments
Colin - nice put down but why would he want to create a distraction from the real economy ? He's got one of the best performing economies in the OECD at the moment, its the last thing he'd want, if fact IO'm sure he will be promoted that fact strongly if it remain the same by election time. ..so strong in fact that the opposition has clearly stopped trying to critcise it and instead now going down the "inequality"route which is all they have left to pick at.
The perception exists within New Zealand that we have one of the best performing economies in the OECD at the moment. That perception is not so widely held outside of N.Z.
The perception within New Zealand of a well performing economy is fragile and may not last until the election. I suspect Key is very aware of that.
The flag distraction appears to have been set in expectation that it may be needed later in the year.
Oh ok, but that's not the overseas perception that I'm hearing off, and not the perception being documented by rating agencies, IMF and other market and economic commentators when they do report on NZ - but I guess theres always perceptions of perceptions right ? The economy is a strength for him and he will be using it big time come election time unless something globally has blown up outside of his control.
We should have a nice beige background to our flag .... reflecting the persona of our sweet country , girt by sea .....
.... and a creamy white pavlova in the middle of the flag .... with sliced kiwifruit on top .... sticking up the middle finger to Australia , who think the pav was their invention ..... and to China who still think that the Kiwifruit is their chinese gooseberry ....
First flood us with migrants, then change the flag...
How about a red flag with a large gold star in the top left with four further smaller gold stars to the right...
or why not offer it for sale to the highest bidder?
Such a discussion is a complete waste of time when so much more important stuff needs done and any change is completely disrespectful to the surviving veterans and family members whose loved ones died to defend that flag. Should the huge percentage of johnny come latelys who were not born here have the final say on our flag?
Why are we stuck with a horrible little john key... maybe someone could accidently flush it down the toilet with all the other ####....
I am remined of Eddie Izzard
I WILL VOTE FOR THE PARTY THAT UNDERTAKES TO SLOW IMMIGRATION DOWN .
We want people that migrate succesfully , are able to integrate , find work, pay their share of tax and contribute to our GDP.
In exchange , they get to live in a caring , egalitarian society, with the rule of law , all up the safest and best place on earth to live ,
I am concerend that we now have people arriving here with all sorts of sharp business practices and a very non- compliant attitude towards taxation.
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