David Gascoigne, Chair: NBR New Zealand Opera, Former Executive Chair: New Zealand International Arts Festival
Our current flag - which has a proud tradition - no longer works well enough: one quarter commemorates the union of three northern hemisphere countries in 1801 - and that's not relevant to us; three quarters show the Southern Cross on a blue background - but seven other nations have that too. There are really only two things that could provide a suitably distinctive central motif for us: the kiwi - but it is too hard to depict in a non-comical way; the silver fern: if it is elegantly stylised in white upon a black background, then this can be a winner. Lloyd Morrison's suggested version is, I believe, just fine. It can rank alongside what is perhaps the finest of the world's current flags: Canada's brilliant maple leaf, with red and white. Let's go...
Alan Duff Anna Rowberry Barbara Kendall Barnaby Weir Bernice Mene Bill Day Bob Harvey Brendan Duffy C.K. Stead Chris Liddell Chris Morrison Christopher Doig Clarke Gayford Colin Meads Craig Heatley Dallas Seymour Dame Cath Tizard Dame Kate Harcourt Dame Susan Devoy Daniel Kereopa David Gascoigne Deborah Wai Kapohe Denis O'Reilly Dick Frizzell Dick Hubbard Dick Tayler Dion Nash Dr Philip Temple Erin Baker Gareth Farr Garry Moore Glenn Colquhoun Graeme Dingle Graham Mourie Greg McGee Greg Murphy Humphry Rolleston Ian Athfield Ian Mune Ian Taylor Jan Beange Jeff Kennedy Jenene Freer Jenny Brash Jeremy Moon Jim Gerard John Acland John Crawford John Psathas Jon Toogood Joy Cowley Julie Stout Karen Walker Kate Coughlan Keith Quinn Ken Douglas Kerry Prendergast Kevin Roberts Lindsey Dawson Mark Weldon Max Gimblett Michael Mayell Mike Kaye Neil Finn Nicky Wagner Oscar Kightley Paul Whelan Pauline Gillespie Peta Mathias Peter Biggs Peter Gordon Peter Leitch Peter Talley Peter Tennent Reverend John Murray Richard Riddiford Richard Taylor Roger Hall Russell Tregonning Ruth Pretty Sam Morgan Sir Miles Warren Sir Richard Hadlee Sir Ron Carter Stephen Tindall Steve Gurney Sukhi Turner Suzie Moncrieff Tane Norton Te Awanui Reeder Theresa Gattung Tom Scott Trevor Grice