The PM will hold a referendum on the NZ flag
but not until next parliament term.
He says the current flag
doesn't represent where NZ is as a country or people
and wants the public to lead the debate
on whether we change it or stick to the current one.
For more on this
we cross live now to our political reporter,
Irena Smith.
It's a topic that's been on the table for a while now
and it looks as if it will go to a referendum.
But it seems the PM doesn't want it
to get in the way of the general election
so it's been put on hold for now.
Is it a flag that represents a nation or not?
John Key wants to see a change in the NZ flag
but wants to wait for after the General Election
before any further discussion and work on it can begin.
But if he and his party do not win the election,
is the Labour Party prepared to carry it on?
This Maori historian says
it's an issue that's been bubbling on for years
and it's time to look at it again.
The PM has already signalled his preference
for the silver fern flag
but at the end of the day,
it will be up to the public to decide.
Although the PM wants the new flag
to be as NZ as possible,
he's not going to insist on a Maori design,
but it's up to Maori
to submit their ideas for consideration.
In the meantime, Mana says you can't eat the flag,
so why is the Government making a big deal out of it
over feeding the hungry?
Thank you for your report, Irena Smith.
We beat the streets to see what the public had to say
about a referendum on changing the flag.
We asked them what they think a new flag should look like
if it was to change.
I think it's okay for us to consider where we're headed
and where we came from.
Should the NZ flag be changed?
No.
Why?
The one we have now is fine.
I think, no,
but others probably want it changed.
Firstly, it's too similar to Australia's flag.
Secondly, it doesn't really represent NZ.
We need to go back to NZ's first flag,
the one created in 1835 -
We should change it to the Matariki constellation.
We all know of the Pleiades Constellation.
In recent years,
it's been celebrated as a heralding icon in Maoridom,
and it's similar to the stars on the current flag.
Some people want one with some sort of Maori design
to show our connection between the Queen of England and Maori.