NZ Announces 40 Potential New Flag Designs

A shortlist with 40 flag proposals has been released by New Zealand’s Flag Consideration Panel after reviewing over 10,000 design submissions.

“A great flag should be distinctive and so simple it can be drawn by a child from memory,” said the Flag Consideration Panel.

“A great flag should be timeless and communicate swiftly and potently the essence of the country it represents.”

As part of a public engagement programme New Zealanders had been encouraged share their thoughts on the qualities that distinguished the country and how its culture and values could best be portrayed in a new flag design.

“It should speak to all Kiwis. Our hope is that New Zealanders will see themselves reflected in these flags’ symbols, colour and stories,” said the panel.

The current design “symbolises a colonial and post-colonial era whose time has passed”, according to New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.

The shortlist will be reduced to four potentials and the public will be given the opportunity to vote on a single finalist later this year. In March 2016 the new design will then be pitted against the existing flag. Ultimately the public will decide whether or not to adopt a new flag.

“As a panel, we’ve been appointed by the government to determine the four alternative flag designs in a neutral and unbiased way,” said the panel in a statement.

Popular motifs in the submissions were the silver fern and the koru.

The country’s existing flag was originally created in 1869 and officially adopted in 1902. Previously the country had flown the United Tribes flag, which was chosen in 1834 to facilitate trade, as well as unify Maori chiefs.

Article Source: Dezeen, August 10, 2015.

Image Source: Twitter – The Drum