Endorsements

Bill Day, Managing Director, Seaworks Ltd. NZ Entrepreneur of the Year 2000
Let's have a flag that we can all recognise. At the moment New Zealanders are far more likely to be able to recognise and describe the Canadian Flag before the one of our own country. We all relate to the silver fern and much of the world sees it as being something uniquely New Zealand. Let's put it on our flag.

Bob Harvey, Mayor of Waitakere City
The flag that you have designed is absolutely right for this country. It fits our identity and it is about commitment to ourselves, who we are and what we can be as a people and as a nation. I think our previous attempts have been noble and well considered but the timing was simply not right. This is the time and this is the country.

Brendan Duffy, Mayor of Horowhenua District
Our country's flag brings up many feelings from its people. To some the thought of change does not sit well with them, especially for the strong historical ties, whilst others feel that it is time to move forward in representing who we are today as a nation. Whilst I do feel it is important to move forward, I do respect those with strong feelings towards retaining an important part of our history. Our flag is our identity, and as such requires consultation in the process of change so that all can have their say. We already have more than one flag in use identifying NZ in the international arena - I support the need to assess our flag(s) and decide what does truly represent who we are.

C.K. Stead, Author
I am keen that we retain our historical connections with what used to be the Mother Country; but it's important that it should be on a basis of equality. For that reason I think we need our own symbols of identity, without colonial overtones. As long as there is a feeling that we are in any sense the subaltern partner, there is bound to be resistance to the connection, and a failure to make the most of it. With MMP, we altered the Parliamentary system we acquired from the UK. Recently we ended our use of the Privy Council as a final court of appeal in matters of New Zealand law. In line with these developments I think a new flag would be a logical and important next step.

Chris Liddell, Chief Financial Officer General Motors, USA
One of our defining strengths is our relative youth as a nation. With youth comes flexibility and a continued desire to challenge the status quo. What better symbol than our flag to demonstrate our commitment to a bigger bolder future for our country?

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