First published on 26/1/2005
©NZPA
The organiser of a campaign to change the flag says the right design has not yet been found but he is confident the existing one will be replaced.
Wellington businessman Lloyd Morrison wants the New Zealand flag, adopted in 1902, changed because he says it was forced on the public through legislation, is rooted in our colonial past and is too easily confused with others, particularly the Australian flag.
He has sparked public debate by proposing a radically different flag design – a stylised silver fern in white on a black background.
On Tuesday, Morrison was on Parliament's steps with a group of prominent Kiwis New Zealanders to launch a petition to force a referendum on the issue.
Among those endorsing the move were television sports broadcaster Keith Quinn, actor Dame Kate Harcourt, former All Black captain Graham Mourie and New Zealand Stock Exchange chief executive Mark Weldon.
About 300,000 signatures are needed by May to put the question of whether the design of the flag should be changed to a referendum at this year’s general election.
Morrison was confident the group would get the 300,000 signatures needed to force a referendum although possibly not in time to stage a referendum at the election.
The reason for staging a referendum was so that the public could force the change, he said.
"At present, Parliament has the right to change the flag. I think it would be a great pity if one day they changed it without the wider involvement of all New Zealanders."
Half a dozen different designs were flying on Parliament's forecourt on Tuesday but Mr Morrison said a replacement design had not yet been chosen.
"Personally, I don’t think we’ve come up with the design at this stage but I don’t really see that as the issue at the moment. I think it's a two stage process and if a design is to be chosen it should be chosen under an official process."
A design should go to a second referendum "so New Zealanders know exactly what they're getting".
New Zealand News UK will be running a special Waitangi Day feature next week focusing on what UK-based Kiwis think about the proposal to change our national flag, and we want to know what you think. Email editor@nznewsuk.co.uk with your thoughts