Yup, I'm Canadian, and yes we do know about our flag's history. Our soldiers who landed on Normandy on Juno beach on D-Day, or fought on Vimy Ridge in WW1, didn't carry the Red and White Maple Leaf, they carried the Red Ensign, our old flag, and history will forever immortalize that on our war memorials, and our Days of Remembrance. Changing the flag to a modern vision of your country is a natural thing to do. Nations that have gone through a change of identity, a modernization always do change their flags, its the natural thing to do. All those doomsayers, who cry bloody murder at the suggestion of a flag change, scream of the horrors to history, how it spits on the honored dead, how the nation will descend into hellfire and damnation, its all been debunked. Cultures change, nations change. It happens. Get over it. New Zealand should change its flag. I think the Silver Fern designs are quite nice and very distinctive and easy to recognize, and its modern.
As a new zealander, It's very frustrating to be constantly compared to Australia, and to be confused as an Australian. New Zealand is a completely different, wonderfully beautifully, independent, and unique country, which should never seem subordinate to Australia. It's time New Zealand starts to repackage themselves. The silver fern represents New Zealand, and every citizen should want to proudlywave their flag with their own identity on it.
I'm an Aussie living and working in NZ.. love the place,,,served overseas with Kiwis,,, they were very proud of the existing flag...I like the flag how it is......
It's ridiculous to say that we need to change the flag because it does not represent modern day New Zealand and then to make no attempt to change (and this and prior government always oppose any material changes to) the constitutional arrangements that underpin the NZ system (which are even more arcane and anachronistic than England's upon which they were based). Change the governing system and implement a bill of rights that is fully justiciable. Do away with system of legislative tyranny that rules NZ and move to a real separation of powers. Forget the current BORA 1990 nonsense - it is watery weak. Leave the flag alone until the institutional, constitutional changes have been meaningful enough to say NZ is a changed country, and then choose a truly super flag to celebrate the fact we have gotten rid of the current crony capital elites only system and moved into an enlightened era.
Changing the NZ flag has been up for debate way before John Key was in office. Even prime minister Helen Clarke said that deleting the union jack from the flag could be an option if people want a redesign.
+noelsoong777 but she Never went ahead and done it, she never tossed 12 million tax dollars into the idea, key wants to make history , there is that self indulgent arrogance at play,
you dodged what I said, typical national party hype , Clark NEVER spent 12 million on the idea did she? ,key has done this on his own back , he wants to change it , if you think Key is so democratic , why did he not take note of referendums in the past by the people , for example the smacking bill, where 84 % apposed it, do you honestly believe what comes out of that nasty lying mouth of Key, and as for the Canadian flag change he used, try thinking for yourself, don't be a Key drone , have a nice day ,
+noelsoong777 a rather weak reply, go back to what ever you do best , it certainly isn't thinking for yourself , as all you did was quote from what key was saying, hence the drone ,
This is exactly the reason this guy should NOT be "trying" to run NZ. Even when its completely clear New Zealanders Do NOT want the flag changed John Key didnt listen and its clear he has his own agenda. You would think if it slapped him in the face like this he would just put a stop to this Nonsense. But John needs to have something with his name on it, even at the expense of all of us. I travel a lot and people always ask me if i am Australian. Why? because they think i sound Australian. Should we change our accent? And we will only have National pride when our Politicians Stop doing embarrassing things that make international media reports like our PM pulling on girls ponytails. Totally Embarrassing . If you go to big sporting games people hold flags that represent that particular game. Normally this has nothing to do with their countries flags. Americans do NOT travel around the world wearing their flags on their shirts. I lived in New York for over 5 years and NEVER saw anyone with an American flag on them. Plenty of "NY" logos tho. I also lived in Vancouver for 6 years and never saw Canadians with their flags on them. John Key is talking nonsense. Canadians also do NOT wear their flag on them either. The money for this flag debate should be coming from his own personal account not ours, Seriously the guy has become a joke. John Key guy has blood on his hands as there are plenty of people who need life saving treatment here in NZ and cant afford it. They will die. I would love to see say 28 people that need treatment standing in front of him and have John Key explain why he is wasting this money on this rubbish and not on them. The guys a crook.
+Phillip Austin www.change.org/p/new-zealand-kiwis-patriots-rsa-the-current-flag-as-sixth-option-to-be-added-to-the-1st-flag-referendum/share?after_sign_exp=default&just_signed=true sign this petition share it everywhere
Yasmin, I find it amazing that there are people out there who can be so easily fooled, clearly it does not seem as though you have done your homework, as a matter of fact I do have personal proof, as well as this John Campbell took a pole that was a very clear NO CHANGE, across almost the whole population. Donna C hit the nail on the head, shes on to it, 10 out of 10 Donna. You Yasmin should read all the posts here, you may come to appreciate just how people feel about John Key and a flag change.
Its time John Key CLEARLY understood we the majority of people in New Zealand DO NOT WANT A BLOODY FLAG CHANGE ..... The national govt should enjoy their last fling as the govt, IT WILL BE THEIR LAST... Sad really since I always liked John Key, now I think I was just an old fool...
+Ben Sintes No need to get angry. He is letting you have a vote on what you want. You will clearly vote for the original. In the end one will win. Do you have proof that the majority does not want the flag changed? I know plenty of people tay to want it changed. When the vote is done, and if the original stays then you can say that, but until then, I suggest you stop. He may not be the best prime minister in the world but at least he's giving us a chance to say what we want cause if it was up to only those in charge it would already be changed. I don't and never have been on Nationals side but John Key makes some very valid points as to why it should be changed. Get your head out of the clouds and give it a chance.
hmm.... so this 'democratic' process was basically, 'lets all talk about a new flag, but what every you decide it, you have to pick the silver fern because thats the one I already like'. What was the point of a competition? I am from Australia. Born in Wellington, NZ. So I don't have an opinion regarding to patriotism and people's emotional connection with NZ and its iconography. But I have a Masters in Architecture and so I do care about good design. No one builds a great house when they pull out a catalog and point at something and say build me this thing. Design is a process and this process failed. NZ is such a creative country, it should have a creative symbolic flag, not just a chip off the old block. The fern has dated. If they wanted to have a flag with a fern everyone loves already, they should have worked out how to get the All Black Fern on it, as that is stylised well. Or the Air New Zealand fern, that is pretty good too. The ferns of the 3 shortlisted flags look very very ordinary. I really hope the one flag that has some design ideas, #RedPeak, gets in to the vote. If you dont love it yet, go and have a look again. It is an amazing flag any country would be proud off. Australia is going to look sad and outdated if NZ goes with the #RedPeak. It is truly designed from the ground up for a modern country.
Australia and NZ are united under the Southern Cross and our shared history. The flags are different, though similar. We have free travel between our countries, no work permits etc. Australia and NZ do not exist in the shadow of the other. (except the rugby where we Aussies are a little in the shade of NZ).
when you become a police officer in new zealand you have to to swear an oath to the queen and the flag shows that we are a commonwealth country. change the flag and their oath means nothing.
Totally agree with john key. Maple leaf screams Canada wherever in the world they go. No Canadian in their right mind would ever go back to their old union jack red ensign flag. The silverfern does the same for NZ. 50 years time, kiwis will look back and say thank god John Key had the bollocks to do it. Kyle Lockwoods flag with maybe black where the red is is my pick.
petelo s The Majority of NZlders don't want a New flag and those who do want it changed will be imports and probably want a Chinese or other version. I voted this douche into power so yes i am now embarrassed that Creepy Key is still running things. A Terrible Mistake.
there is no genuine interest in changing the flag, as could be seen at tiny attendances on meetings to discuss the issue. the southern cross shows where we are, and the union jack shows our roots. leave it alone.
The reason they want to change it is because they're afraid of the moai flag (signed declaration in 1835, native Hapu and King ). It carries authority jurisdiction trade and commerce titles ( govt. use it when no one sees) which is a directly connected to King william IV over the current nz flag which has no power. This slimey lying john keys and his minions know it. The queen has left her throne and left eng. & nz without a crown. changing the flag has nothing to do with how lovely silver fern will look. It's all BS !!! He used to work for federal reserve and now who does he work for. yep you guessed it !!!!
Changing it to John Key's flag? This new flag is not only of some boring and dull silver fern but on a black background. It is solely suggested by him. He has to ruffle the feathers of a back burner issue. Now some people are so particular about some boring meaningless black flag with a sole design of a foliage found not only in New Zealand. That's not a national flag but a sports flag. It has no historical, cultural and national meaning. It's just a copy and paste from the Rugby All Blacks. Come on, you can be better than this.
change the flag. I have hated our flag the day I was born. I don't see why people love our original flag because it looks the same as Australia and the union jack doesn't represent New Zealand at all. The silver fern would represent the whole of New Zealand. The people that died in the world war has silver ferns on their grave. I reckon the black and blue with the fern is the flag we should have. Please change our flag.
![Six Hundred Strike [EPIC: The Musical] Full Animatic](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zov6NXIAuow/mqdefault.jpg)
Yup, I'm Canadian, and yes we do know about our flag's history.
Our soldiers who landed on Normandy on Juno beach on D-Day, or fought on Vimy Ridge in WW1, didn't carry the Red and White Maple Leaf, they carried the Red Ensign, our old flag, and history will forever immortalize that on our war memorials, and our Days of Remembrance.
Changing the flag to a modern vision of your country is a natural thing to do. Nations that have gone through a change of identity, a modernization always do change their flags, its the natural thing to do.
All those doomsayers, who cry bloody murder at the suggestion of a flag change, scream of the horrors to history, how it spits on the honored dead, how the nation will descend into hellfire and damnation, its all been debunked.
Cultures change, nations change. It happens. Get over it.
New Zealand should change its flag. I think the Silver Fern designs are quite nice and very distinctive and easy to recognize, and its modern.
As a new zealander, It's very frustrating to be constantly compared to Australia, and to be confused as an Australian. New Zealand is a completely different, wonderfully beautifully, independent, and unique country, which should never seem subordinate to Australia. It's time New Zealand starts to repackage themselves. The silver fern represents New Zealand, and every citizen should want to proudlywave their flag with their own identity on it.
I'm an Aussie living and working in NZ.. love the place,,,served overseas with Kiwis,,, they were very proud of the existing flag...I like the flag how it is......
He's a cowered he left .Bill English to deal with his bull shit. A real leader ! Thanks John key....
It's ridiculous to say that we need to change the flag because it does not represent modern day New Zealand and then to make no attempt to change (and this and prior government always oppose any material changes to) the constitutional arrangements that underpin the NZ system (which are even more arcane and anachronistic than England's upon which they were based). Change the governing system and implement a bill of rights that is fully justiciable. Do away with system of legislative tyranny that rules NZ and move to a real separation of powers. Forget the current BORA 1990 nonsense - it is watery weak. Leave the flag alone until the institutional, constitutional changes have been meaningful enough to say NZ is a changed country, and then choose a truly super flag to celebrate the fact we have gotten rid of the current crony capital elites only system and moved into an enlightened era.
William M. Kelly exactly
Don't care what john or other people say proud of our flag......if your not go wave a Canadian flag or some other country FLAG .......#NOFLAGCHANGE
Changing the NZ flag has been up for debate way before John Key was in office. Even prime minister Helen Clarke said that deleting the union jack from the flag could be an option if people want a redesign.
+noelsoong777
but she Never went ahead and done it, she never tossed 12 million tax dollars into the idea, key wants to make history , there is that self indulgent arrogance at play,
+nukerzero the first if the government changed it without our consent like in Canada there wouldn't be a need to spend on the democratic process.
you dodged what I said, typical national party hype , Clark NEVER spent 12 million on the idea did she? ,key has done this on his own back , he wants to change it , if you think Key is so democratic , why did he not take note of referendums in the past by the people , for example the smacking bill, where 84 % apposed it, do you honestly believe what comes out of that nasty lying mouth of Key, and as for the Canadian flag change he used, try thinking for yourself, don't be a Key drone , have a nice day ,
nukerzero the first Apparently everyone who doesn't agree with you is a Key drone.
+noelsoong777
a rather weak reply, go back to what ever you do best , it certainly isn't thinking for yourself , as all you did was quote from what key was saying, hence the drone ,
This is exactly the reason this guy should NOT be "trying" to run NZ. Even when its completely clear New Zealanders Do NOT want the flag changed John Key didnt listen and its clear he has his own agenda. You would think if it slapped him in the face like this he would just put a stop to this Nonsense. But John needs to have something with his name on it, even at the expense of all of us. I travel a lot and people always ask me if i am Australian. Why? because they think i sound Australian. Should we change our accent? And we will only have National pride when our Politicians Stop doing embarrassing things that make international media reports like our PM pulling on girls ponytails. Totally Embarrassing . If you go to big sporting games people hold flags that represent that particular game. Normally this has nothing to do with their countries flags. Americans do NOT travel around the world wearing their flags on their shirts. I lived in New York for over 5 years and NEVER saw anyone with an American flag on them. Plenty of "NY" logos tho. I also lived in Vancouver for 6 years and never saw Canadians with their flags on them. John Key is talking nonsense. Canadians also do NOT wear their flag on them either. The money for this flag debate should be coming from his own personal account not ours, Seriously the guy has become a joke. John Key guy has blood on his hands as there are plenty of people who need life saving treatment here in NZ and cant afford it. They will die. I would love to see say 28 people that need treatment standing in front of him and have John Key explain why he is wasting this money on this rubbish and not on them. The guys a crook.
Changing the flag is just a waste of money and time
+Phillip Austin
www.change.org/p/new-zealand-kiwis-patriots-rsa-the-current-flag-as-sixth-option-to-be-added-to-the-1st-flag-referendum/share?after_sign_exp=default&just_signed=true
sign this petition share it everywhere
Yasmin, I find it amazing that there are people out there who can be so easily fooled, clearly it does not seem as though you have done your homework, as a matter of fact I do have personal proof, as well as this John Campbell took a pole that was a very clear NO CHANGE, across almost the whole population. Donna C hit the nail on the head, shes on to it, 10 out of 10 Donna. You Yasmin should read all the posts here, you may come to appreciate just how people feel about John Key and a flag change.
+Ben Sintes yea and what happed to john campbell ?
Its time John Key CLEARLY understood we the majority of people in New Zealand DO NOT WANT A BLOODY FLAG CHANGE ..... The national govt should enjoy their last fling as the govt, IT WILL BE THEIR LAST... Sad really since I always liked John Key, now I think I was just an old fool...
+Ben Sintes
No need to get angry. He is letting you have a vote on what you want. You will clearly vote for the original. In the end one will win. Do you have proof that the majority does not want the flag changed? I know plenty of people tay to want it changed. When the vote is done, and if the original stays then you can say that, but until then, I suggest you stop. He may not be the best prime minister in the world but at least he's giving us a chance to say what we want cause if it was up to only those in charge it would already be changed. I don't and never have been on Nationals side but John Key makes some very valid points as to why it should be changed. Get your head out of the clouds and give it a chance.
Yazmin De Caigney I didn't want it changed but if we have to vote, I will choose no flag to represent the eventual goal of no government or state.
This is all costing money that we don't have. The actual voting is taking money from us.There is no point. Please try and understand this Yasmin.
The money is already spent...
I AGREE WITH THE SLIVER FERN
Flags aren't the same as a home décor makeover. It may not be pretty, but it's OURS!
hmm.... so this 'democratic' process was basically, 'lets all talk about a new flag, but what every you decide it, you have to pick the silver fern because thats the one I already like'. What was the point of a competition? I am from Australia. Born in Wellington, NZ. So I don't have an opinion regarding to patriotism and people's emotional connection with NZ and its iconography. But I have a Masters in Architecture and so I do care about good design. No one builds a great house when they pull out a catalog and point at something and say build me this thing. Design is a process and this process failed. NZ is such a creative country, it should have a creative symbolic flag, not just a chip off the old block. The fern has dated. If they wanted to have a flag with a fern everyone loves already, they should have worked out how to get the All Black Fern on it, as that is stylised well. Or the Air New Zealand fern, that is pretty good too. The ferns of the 3 shortlisted flags look very very ordinary. I really hope the one flag that has some design ideas, #RedPeak, gets in to the vote. If you dont love it yet, go and have a look again. It is an amazing flag any country would be proud off. Australia is going to look sad and outdated if NZ goes with the #RedPeak. It is truly designed from the ground up for a modern country.
Australia and NZ are united under the Southern Cross and our shared history. The flags are different, though similar. We have free travel between our countries, no work permits etc. Australia and NZ do not exist in the shadow of the other. (except the rugby where we Aussies are a little in the shade of NZ).
when you become a police officer in new zealand you have to to swear an oath to the queen and the flag shows that we are a commonwealth country. change the flag and their oath means nothing.
NZ should become a republic then change the flag at the same time.
Totally agree with john key. Maple leaf screams Canada wherever in the world they go. No Canadian in their right mind would ever go back to their old union jack red ensign flag. The silverfern does the same for NZ. 50 years time, kiwis will look back and say thank god John Key had the bollocks to do it. Kyle Lockwoods flag with maybe black where the red is is my pick.
We can't afford a flag change, especially when nobody wants it!
petelo s The Majority of NZlders don't want a New flag and those who do want it changed will be imports and probably want a Chinese or other version. I voted this douche into power so yes i am now embarrassed that Creepy Key is still running things. A Terrible Mistake.
+Stopthegreed How do you know what the majority wants? Have you spoken to everyone in New Zealand and asked them about their choice?
+beelzebubblez "Nobody" is a bold word choice. I know plenty that want it changed. You don't even know.
beelzebubblez Agreed!
New Zealand spillers fought under this flag dome Kim jonh onn
there is no genuine interest in changing the flag, as could be seen at tiny attendances on meetings to discuss the issue. the southern cross shows where we are, and the union jack shows our roots. leave it alone.
What about the All Black flag with fern?
oh that right, looks to much like ISIL flag (also known as moderate rebels lol).
ok
The reason they want to change it is because they're afraid of the moai flag (signed declaration in 1835, native Hapu and King ). It carries authority jurisdiction trade and commerce titles ( govt. use it when no one sees) which is a directly connected to King william IV over the current nz flag which has no power. This slimey lying john keys and his minions know it. The queen has left her throne and left eng. & nz without a crown. changing the flag has nothing to do with how lovely silver fern will look. It's all BS !!! He used to work for federal reserve and now who does he work for. yep you guessed it !!!!
Changing it to John Key's flag? This new flag is not only of some boring and dull silver fern but on a black background. It is solely suggested by him. He has to ruffle the feathers of a back burner issue. Now some people are so particular about some boring meaningless black flag with a sole design of a foliage found not only in New Zealand. That's not a national flag but a sports flag. It has no historical, cultural and national meaning. It's just a copy and paste from the Rugby All Blacks. Come on, you can be better than this.
lmao, last minute of this interview. what a goober
change the flag. I have hated our flag the day I was born. I don't see why people love our original flag because it looks the same as Australia and the union jack doesn't represent New Zealand at all. The silver fern would represent the whole of New Zealand. The people that died in the world war has silver ferns on their grave. I reckon the black and blue with the fern is the flag we should have. Please change our flag.