29 June 2005
All Black legend Colin Meads is urging New Zealanders to take action and sign the petition for a referendum asking, "should the design of the New Zealand flag be changed?"
The campaign run by www.nzflag.com needs to collect 300,000 signatures for the Government to hold a referendum on the issue.
Meads joins a host of other well-known Kiwis who are supporting the www.nzflag.com petition for a referendum for change. His support comes at a time New Zealand patriotism is riding high during the current series against the Lions.
"I'm a big supporter of New Zealanders flying a flag that we can call our own."
"Kiwis or silver ferns are possible choices. As a former New Zealand International I find it frustrating when people confuse our flag with Australia's. I like the unity of patriotic support which the South African flag has brought that country. I think New Zealand needs the same."
Meads' support is a welcome boost for the campaign. The NZflag.com Trust says New Zealanders support change but a generally apathetic in their actions.
"Polling has consistently shown there is more than 50% support for change, but signing the petition requires people to make an effort. People actually need to sign the petition to make a difference," said campaign spokesperson, Jo Coughlan.
Meads believes any change would have to have the support of the majority of New Zealanders and likes the referendum process because it gives Kiwis the chance to have their say.
Telecom shares this view and is getting behind the campaign through moves such as having petition forms on hand in the Telecom bunkers at Lions' matches.
"The tour is stirring up a lot of Kiwi pride so it's a great time for people to be thinking about the flag," said Telecom Chief Executive Theresa Gattung. "As a New Zeeland company we want to do our bit to help people have their say."
Petitions can be downloaded at www.nzflag.com
www.NZFlag.com Trust has been established to inspire debate about whether New Zealand should change its flag.
The Trust believes in three guiding principles:
1. The debate must be apolitical
2. Change can only happen if New Zealanders agree to change i.e. by a referendum
3. The campaign must respect the current flag
Over ninety prominent Kiwis across a range of disciplines including local government, sports, the arts, education, religion are pushing for a referendum on a new national flag. The www.nzflag.com Trust has sought the support of such a broad range of New Zealand leaders to show, by their support and widely differing back- grounds, that the campaign has engagement with all sectors of New Zealand society.
Their names, photographs and endorsements appear on the www.nzflag.com website www.nzflag.com/endorsements.cfm and include Olympic gold medallist Barbara Kendall; world champion squash player Dame Susan Devoy; musician Neil Finn; businessman Stephen Tindall, and Richard Taylor of Weta.
The www.NZFlag.com Trust, established in February 2004 seeks to gather around 300,000 signatures in early 2005 to hold a referendum asking New Zealanders to have their say on whether New Zealand should change its flag.
Upper Hutt Leader
(c) 2005 Fairfax New Zealand Limited