New Zealand Conservative

The four flag choices. Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know that we here in New Zealand are having a referendum early next year on whether to change our national flag - that is, of course,  after a separate referendum to decide on what the design of the new flag should actually be.   In other words, it's being done backwards, as though the decision for change had already been made. And I think that was the intent. Otherwise, why not ask first if people want a change, before wasting time and effort asking for design submissions and whittling them down to a final four? Perhaps they know damn well that when people are asked straight up, as they have been in the past, they don't want a new flag. If it must be done in this order, why not just have the one referendum (saving time and expense), and include the current flag as the fifth option? Will they, at some stage, perhaps decide not to have the second referendum regarding the choice between the new ...

The Herald is still harping on about changing the flag despite there being little interest from the hoi polloi for doing so. Today they have dragged up a World War Two veteran to voice his support. And they have canvased new immigrants for their view Nearly half of a sample of immigrants spoken to by the Herald want the New Zealand flag changed. The new Kiwis say the current design does not represent them or the ethnic diversity of New Zealand today. Nearly Half? That means less than half. Have people who have immigrated here have not taken our flag into consideration when making the choice to uproot themselves? Is it a hardship to put up with our flag and are we being intolerant to impose it upon them? Oh the Liberal mind is stuck on banalities - there are far more pressing issues than the Flag which represents the history of this nation, which despite all the noise, is actually one of tolerance and acceptance of all. Compare how the British set up New Zealand with h...