NZ Flag.com Trust
Encyclopedia
The NZ Flag.com Trust was established in 2003 by Wellington
businessman Lloyd Morrison
with purpose of encouraging New Zealanders to change the Flag of New Zealand
, and frequently comments on the New Zealand flag debate
.
The Trust is a non-profit charitable trust and relies on donations and proceeds from the sale of merchandise to fund its operation.
. However, the Trust failed to attract enough signatures, and six months after its launch, the petition had been signed by 100,000 people (the signatures of 270,000 - 10 per cent of eligible voters - are required). After Telecom New Zealand
and New Zealand Post
reneged on an offer to distribute the petition nationwide, the Trust withdrew the petition.
Lloyd Morrison attributed the failure to apathy from the general public, while supporters of New Zealand's current flag attributed the petition's failure to the popularity of that flag.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
businessman Lloyd Morrison
Lloyd Morrison
Hugh Richmond "Lloyd" Morrison, CNZM is a Wellington, New Zealand-based investment banker and entrepreneur. He founded H.R.L...
with purpose of encouraging New Zealanders to change the Flag of New Zealand
Flag of New Zealand
The flag of New Zealand is a defaced Blue Ensign with the Union Flag in the canton, and four red stars with white borders to the right. The stars represent the constellation of Crux, the Southern Cross....
, and frequently comments on the New Zealand flag debate
New Zealand flag debate
The New Zealand flag debate is a debate over whether the New Zealand flag should be changed. Unlike in Australia, the flag debate in New Zealand is independent of the New Zealand republic debate – the Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand states that "creating a republic does not require any...
.
The Trust is a non-profit charitable trust and relies on donations and proceeds from the sale of merchandise to fund its operation.
Petition to change flag
In January 2005, the Trust launched a petition to bring about a citizens' initiated referendum on the issue. Had it been successful, a referendum would have been held at the 2005 general electionNew Zealand general election, 2005
The 2005 New Zealand general election held on 17 September 2005 determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. No party won a majority in the unicameral House of Representatives, but the Labour Party of Prime Minister Helen Clark secured two more seats than nearest rival, the...
. However, the Trust failed to attract enough signatures, and six months after its launch, the petition had been signed by 100,000 people (the signatures of 270,000 - 10 per cent of eligible voters - are required). After Telecom New Zealand
Telecom New Zealand
Telecom New Zealand is a New Zealand-wide communications service provider , providing fixed line telephone services, a mobile network, an internet service provider , a major ICT provider to NZ businesses , and a wholesale network infrastructure provider to other NZ CSPs...
and New Zealand Post
New Zealand Post
New Zealand Post, commonly referred by its acronym, NZPost is a State owned enterprise responsible for providing postal service in New Zealand.-History:...
reneged on an offer to distribute the petition nationwide, the Trust withdrew the petition.
Lloyd Morrison attributed the failure to apathy from the general public, while supporters of New Zealand's current flag attributed the petition's failure to the popularity of that flag.
See also
- Flag of New ZealandFlag of New ZealandThe flag of New Zealand is a defaced Blue Ensign with the Union Flag in the canton, and four red stars with white borders to the right. The stars represent the constellation of Crux, the Southern Cross....
- New Zealand flag debateNew Zealand flag debateThe New Zealand flag debate is a debate over whether the New Zealand flag should be changed. Unlike in Australia, the flag debate in New Zealand is independent of the New Zealand republic debate – the Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand states that "creating a republic does not require any...
- Silver fern flagSilver fern flagThe silver fern flag is any flag design that incorporates a silver fern. The silver fern motif is associated with New Zealand, and a silver fern flag may be used as an unofficial flag of New Zealand. The silver fern itself is a quasi-national emblem, being used for various official symbols,...
- New Zealand Flag InstituteNew Zealand Flag InstituteThe New Zealand Flag Institute was established in 2005 by Auckland lawyer John Cox, amidst a campaign by the NZ Flag.com Trust for a referendum to change the New Zealand flag. The campaign to bring about a referendum on the subject subsequently failed....