Endorsements

Joy Cowley, Author, DCNZM, OBE
As a patriotic Kiwi, I have my own flag story. In 1978, my flag-loving American editor visited New Zealand and over three weeks, I drove her around the North and South Islands. She wanted to see the New Zealand flag, but could we find one anywhere? No. In those days we didn't show the flag often. None flew outside airports and civic buildings. The flagpoles outside parliament were bare because parliament was not in session. Post Offices had flagpoles but the flag was seen only on special occasions like the Queen's Birthday or when someone important had died. Little flags for sale in souvenir shops? No, we didn't do that, either. After three weeks of bare flagpoles, I was getting a little desperate. My editor was due to return to America without seeing our flag. I was desperate. Then I had a thought. And yes, we did finally discover a New Zealand flag in Wellington. Where was it? Outside the American Embassy! That was 1978. Since then we have developed a strong sense of our identity, and as these nzflag.com schools competition essay writers tell us, we need a flag that reflects who we really are.