By David Killick
7 April 2010
Why don't we fly the national flag more, asks David Killick .
* Anton Petre got his flag and flagpole from Treleaven Rigging in Cass
Street, Christchurch. See www.rigging.co.nz.
* Also see: theflagshop.co.nz, which also sells an aluminium flagpole
kit; and flagheaven.co.nz
* And if you want to participate in the ongoing flag debate, see
nzflag.com and flagspot.net.
* Or write to The Press and share your opinion.
Travel to the United States and you see Old Glory - the Stars and Stripes
- everywhere: The flag is flown on every public building and in every
public space; giant flags cover the whole frontages of buildings, and
the flag also adorns many private homes.
Americans are proud of their flag. When I visited friends in Alexandria,
Virginia - a historic town on the banks of the Potomac, close to Washington,
DC - I was intrigued to also see some different flags, such as the historic
Betty Ross flag with its circle of 13 stars. My friends also fly the Redskins
football team flag and, on occasions, the MIA flag to commemorate servicemen
missing in action.
Canadians plaster themselves with maple leaves so they don't get mistaken
for Americans when they travel. Britain is proud of the Union Jack (strictly
speaking, the Union flag), although it isn't always treated with respect,
sometimes suffering the indignity of being turned into underwear and sold
in markets.
Australia also flies its flag proudly, which people from other countries
often confuse with our own (set the region on a Mac computer for example,
and you get a little icon in the top corner with an Aussie flag).
And New Zealand? As I write this I'm gazing out the window of The Press
building at the rooftop of a hotel from which a New Zealand flag is fluttering
against a clear blue sky. But it's frayed and tatty. A shame.
Why don't we fly the flag more? Former Press assistant editor Anton Petre
does from his retirement house in Upper Moutere, near Nelson. "We
just like it, and feel someone ought to," says Petre. "When
we moved, the neighbours had a flagpole (still do) and flew the flag,
so we decided to do the same. Neighbours now fly the black 'fern' flag,
we fly the official one. . .
"It also makes a good guide to the wind direction. And a sign when
giving directions to guests on how to find us.
"We don't fly it because we are noisily patriotic or love the Gummint,
although we do think that NZ is probably the best place on the planet
to reside, in spite of the usual grumbles."
Kiwis are often reticent about showing patriotism. There's also ongoing
debate on whether we should have a new flag, to distinguish ourselves
from Australia or to underscore independence from Britain. I can understand
that, but still like our flag. The deep blue stands out in our crisp clear
light. Perhaps Helen Clark's suggestion of simply having the four stars
of the Southern Cross makes sense.
The Maori Tino Rangatira flag demonstrates just how emotive and controversial
flags can be.
I don't favour a silver fern against a black background, or indeed anything
black - Kiwis use it far too much as it is.
Why can't we embrace colour? And some proposed designs look more like
corporate logos.
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