25 January 2005
A number of prominent New Zealanders are taking to the streets today in support of a campaign to change the New Zealand flag, as the petition is officially launched at Parliament.
Former governor-general Dame Cath Tizard, sports broadcaster Keith Quinn, NZ Stock Exchange chief executive Mark Weldon, actor/broadcaster Dame Kate Harcourt, former world champion squash player Dame Susan Devoy, and former All Black captain Graham Mourie are lending their weight to the campaign.
Before they take to the streets to collect signatures, Wellington-based endorsers will gather in front of Parliament for a signing ceremony flanked by a number of flags which members of the public have designed and suggested as alternatives to the current design.
Their signatures will be the first of 300,000 which the campaign intends to deliver to Parliament by May this year.
NZFlag.com Trust spokeswoman Jo Coughlan said petitions would be circulating nationwide.
"Four hundred volunteers around New Zealand have agreed to collect signatures, but more volunteers are needed. We hope to have around 1000 volunteers on the streets collecting signatures for a referendum to change the design of the flag next year."
The campaign needed 300,000 signatures by May, so the question "Should the design of the New Zealand flag be changed?" could be put to New Zealanders at this year's general election.
"Changing the flag will be a defining moment in New Zealand's history," Ms Coughlan said.
The Dominion Post
© NZPA