25 June 2005
By Ainsley Thomson
Prime Minister Helen Clark would like the Union Jack gone from the New Zealand flag but would keep the Southern Cross and "beautiful blue" background.
During an appearance on the TVNZ children's programme Studio 2 yesterday, a young viewer asked Helen Clark what she thought of the flag. The Prime Minister said there was a lot of debate about the flag so she would put in her "penny's worth".
"I reckon if you took the Union Jack out of the corner it would be just great, because it has the Southern Cross and the beautiful blue of the sea and sky around New Zealand."
Action group nzflag.com is attempting to collect the 300,000-odd signatures needed to force a referendum on the subject of changing the flag.
Last night, a spokesman for Helen Clark said she was not taking a position on whether the country should change the flag.
"She is simply saying if we did, she would favour the change that was outlined."
New Zealand Herald
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