New Zealand vote to keep current flag

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by RT14

Wow. Just wow. Africa doesn't have a flag as its a friggin CONTINENT.

[Fuzz]

the fish are bitin' today, I see.

[Magnum PEI]

The new design looked like a bad municipal flag. But I was kind of hoping it would win. Maybe next time with a better design.

[Vulcan]

We never had a vote when we changed our flag. I never wanted a new flag as I it was part of our history and maybe a general vote would have kept it as well. I was wrong though as our new flag is more distinctive. New Zealand made a mistake.

[Magnum PEI]

Canada is a bit different because the Union Jack represents conquest and subjugation to a significant part of the population (Quebec). Plus I dont think the Red Ensign was ever the official flag (might be wrong about that) and most parade and victory day photos I've seen feature the Union Jack almost exclusively. For example, first Stampede parade:

[RT14]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

the fish are bitin' today, I see.

Haha, ok my bad. Flew right over my head if it was a joke.

[sun]

Big vexillology fan here. Too bad they kept the old one. The new ones were mostly pretty good. I thought the monkey butt was kinda neat.

Favourite flag?

I like Barbados:

[Party Elephant]

Originally Posted by Bagor

I'm surprised.

Most of the Kiwi's I've met are fiercely proud of their country as it is today and feel no connection or affiliation with their colonial past.

That, and the alternative choice was awesome.

This isn't quite right. New Zealanders take a ton of pride in their military history, with ANZAC day being one of the most important days of the year from a national pride perspective. Many veterans campaigned against changing the flag. This got a lot of national attention.

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Honestly the black flag with the silver fern would have been a better choice.

I agree. It was one of the five choices in the previous referendum, which was one of those "rank the 5 options in order" votes, and had a much lower turnout. One of the choices was exactly the same as the one that ended up winning, just with a different colour scheme:

Spoiler!

Obviously they were both designed by the same guy, like he couldn't make up his mind or something.

I would have been totally happy with one of these two, as they'd be unique and badass flags that represent New Zealand while also being really unique among national flags:

Spoiler!

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

I suspect it was the fact that the discussion was forced on them, I think the vote was more a large eff you to the PM.

Yes, you are bang on. Most kiwis saw this whole drawn out process, with TWO referendums, as a gross waste of money.

Originally Posted by Vulcan

We never had a vote when we changed our flag. I never wanted a new flag as I it was part of our history and maybe a general vote would have kept it as well. I was wrong though as our new flag is more distinctive.

Yes, and that was probably for the best. The new flag option here in NZ was doomed to be a "design by committee" disaster. My main objection to the new flag is that it's just the old flag with a fern slapped on the corner. It managed to offend the least amount of people in the Rank Your Top 5 referendum.

Originally Posted by Ducay

I don't think the Kiwis realize 99% of the world thinks they're looking at an Aussie flag when they see the NZ one.

Not that the rest of the world will ever know or care, but New Zealand's use of the blue ensign with the southern cross predates Australia's by about 30 years.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

Canada is a bit different because the Union Jack represents conquest and subjugation to a significant part of the population (Quebec). Plus I dont think the Red Ensign was ever the official flag (might be wrong about that) and most parade and victory day photos I've seen feature the Union Jack almost exclusively. For example, first Stampede parade:

We used to sing "God Save the Queen" at every occasion as well. I still know the words but haven't heard it in ages. Not that I miss it, it's just something that has changed.

What I remember the Union Jack was the British Flag while Canada always used this Red Ensign and as said, Quebec was probably an impetus for our new flag.



To me the centennial of 1967 and the new flag were symbols of our true independence.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by sun

Big vexillology fan here. Too bad they kept the old one. The new ones were mostly pretty good. I thought the monkey butt was kinda neat.

Favourite flag?

I like Barbados:

Looks fine. Perhaps a bit literal. I mean, a tiny, tiny green island on a field of blue with a cloud in the sky... what's the white sash symbolize?

[Hemi-Cuda]

What I don't understand is why Australia still uses the Union Jack in their flag. Every Aussie I've ever met has been fairly anti-UK politically speaking, and getting a drunk Aussie ranting about the monarchy is always a great sight

[sun]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Looks fine. Perhaps a bit literal. I mean, a tiny, tiny green island on a field of blue with a cloud in the sky... what's the white sash symbolize?

lol dammit. How about this one: