We assert that the debate about changing the flag is not anti-royalist in any way. If New Zealand changes its flag, there should be no expectation that this would mean New Zealand should leave or be excommunicated from the Commonwealth. While a number of Commonwealth countries have the Union Jack in the canton of their flags, even more do not. Wanting to change the flag is no more anti-royalist than supporting the All Blacks when they are playing England!
What is clear is that at times the New Zealand flag has been confused with that of Australia, which is not surprising. In the mid 1980s, when Bob Hawke was visiting Ottawa as Prime Minister of Australia, very embarrassingly, the Canadians raised the New Zealand flag in his honour. Almost as embarrassing is the following, taken from the webpage of The Australian Monarchist League when they, of all people, mistakenly used the New Zealand flag instead of the Australian flag!!!!
"The Australian Monarchist League today proved quite unequivocally that the Australian Flag must change," the Executive Director of Ausflag, Mr Harold Scruby said today.
"For years the monarchists have been denying that the Australian flag is confused with other British colonial ensigns, particularly the flag of New Zealand.
"Today, they have proudly published the New Zealand flag on their web-site, mistaking it for the Australian flag, under the heading - 'Appeal: The threat to Democracy in the English Speaking Nations.'
When Prime Minister Hawke went to Canada in 1984, Ottawa was festooned with NZ flags. There have been dozens of other occasions when the NZ flag has been mistakenly raised instead of the Australian flag. If the monarchists can't tell the difference, then no-one ever will!
"Check their web-site before they realise their monumental blunder and change it." he added.
"It's time for an urgent change to Our Own Flag," Mr Scruby said.
