23 March 2005
By Jeremy Robinson
To change, or not to change our flag.
That is the option a national campaign is trying to give New Zealand citizens via a national referendum this year.
The NZflag.com Trust went streetside in Invercargill yesterday in a bid to kick-start a referendum on the flag.
Campaign manager Iona Pannett said 300,000 signatures were required from eligible voters, preferably before May, to create force for a national referendum calling for a flag review commission.
Things began well in Invercargill yesterday, with the petition averaging about one signature a minute during the lunch hour, she said.
"We are just asking for support for a referendum but are campaigning for change."
The drive was all about having something "truly unique" to represent New Zealand and she welcomed any discussion on the campaign throughout the week.
It was common for people passionate about the existing flag to debate the issue, especially when it came to historical loyalties, she said.
"You get a few people staunchly opposed to it but it's all about encouraging discussion."
She believed a new flag could do just as much to honour the sacrifices of soldiers who fought for New Zealand and the Commonwealth.
"We are all passionate about New Zealand and the flag. This is about getting people to have a say. If (the people) say they don't want change, we will have to accept that."
Ms Pannett said about 30,000 signatures had been gathered so far, ahead of the petition hitting the central North Island.
The trust wants the most popular alternative from commission findings to go up against the existing flag in another general election referendum in 2008.
However, the Government was not bound by a successful citizen-initiated referendum, with about three being passed from more than 15 she knew of, Ms Pannett said.
Southland Times
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