New Zealand flag debate
Encyclopedia
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 change to the Treaty of Waitangi
, flag or Commonwealth
membership", while NZFlag
has stated that changing the flag "is not anti-royalist in any way".
For several decades, alternative designs have been proposed with varying degrees of support. There is no consensus among proponents of changing the flag as to which design should replace the flag.
, suggested that the design of the flag should be changed, and sought an artist to design a new flag with a silver fern on the fly. The proposal attracted little support.
made a call for a flag change, which also had little effect.
The Listener
magazine held a flag design contest in 1989, attracting nearly 600 entries. Out of the seven semi-finalists, which included the national flag and the United Tribes Flag, the national flag won with a minority vote of 45.6%.
In 1998, Prime Minister Jenny Shipley
backed Cultural Affairs Minister Marie Hasler
's call for the flag to be changed. Shipley, along with the New Zealand Tourism Board, supported the quasi-national silver fern flag
, using a white silver fern on a black background, along the lines of the Canadian maple leaf flag.
Both of these events were met with opposition from the Returned Services' Association
.
was founded by Lloyd Morrison with the aim of bringing about a non-binding referendum
on the subject. Under New Zealand law, a referendum may be held on any issue if 10% of electors sign a petition which is presented to Parliament. The Trust launched their petition for such a referendum in 2005. Their campaign used a stylised silver fern flag designed by Cameron Sanders.
In response to the petition, the New Zealand Flag Institute
was founded to oppose the referendum campaign and promote the current flag, as well as to offer a more scholarly view of the flag. The Royal New Zealand Returned Services' Association
(RSA), the New Zealand organisation for war veterans, did not openly back the current flag at its annual conference, calling passing a remit that "It is the view of RNZRSA that any change to the New Zealand Flag should be solely the prerogative of the people of New Zealand as determined by a substantial majority of electors in a referendum. It is also the Association's view that this matter should be taken out of the political arena."
The petition attracted 100,000 signatures out of the required approximately 270,000 and was withdrawn in July 2005, well before the general election
in September. The NZ Flag.com Trust cited public apathy to change as the main reason for withdrawing the petition.
Around the same time, the New Zealand Herald surveyed various political party leaders and the twenty two members of the Order of New Zealand
, with the results showing an even split.
Later, on 5 August, Labour list MP Charles Chauvel
introduced a members Bill
for a consultative commission followed by a referendum on the New Zealand flag.
The proposal of replacing the national flag of New Zealand with the silver fern flag has been supported by Cultural Affairs Minister Marie Hasler
, Prime Minister Jenny Shipley
and the New Zealand Tourism Board in 1998, and current Prime Minister John Key
in 2010.
The New Zealand Flag Institute
, however, criticises the silver fern, which they say, is the logo of some of New Zealand's sporting teams rather than the country itself.
The United Tribes Flag was the national flag of New Zealand when it first declared independence in 1835, until the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi
in 1840.
Friedensreich Hundertwasser's proposal, the "koru flag", represents an uncurling fern frond in the form of a stylised koru
, a traditional Māori carving pattern. This flag is occasionally seen around the country.
Kyle Lockwood's proposal won a Wellington newspaper flag competition in July 2004 and appeared on TV3
in 2005 after winning a poll which included the present national flag. The fern represents the people of New Zealand and the stars represent the location of New Zealand. The blue represents the ocean, the red represents the Māori and wartime sacrifices, and white represents the "land of the long white cloud" epithet.
James Dignan's proposal was displayed in the New Zealand Herald on 9 May 2002, at the time of the centenary of the current flag. It combines elements from the national flag, the Tino rangatiratanga
flag and the silver fern flag. This combination both looked back to traditional links with the United Kingdom and forward to New Zealand's current place as a Polynesian cultural centre.
Helen Clark made her proposal while Prime Minister of New Zealand
. She said that deleting the Union Jack from the New Zealand flag was a possibility if people wanted to redesign the flag, leaving it as a "rather attractive Southern Cross."
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....
should be changed. Unlike in Australia
Australian flag debate
The Australian flag debate is a debate over whether the Australian flag should be changed in order to remove the Union Flag from the canton, often in connection with the issue of republicanism in Australia...
, the flag debate in New Zealand is independent of the New Zealand republic debate
Republicanism in New Zealand
Republicanism in New Zealand is a theoretical political concept, the implementation of which would result in changing New Zealand's current constitutional monarchy to that of a republic...
– the Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand
Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand is an organisation formed in 1994 whose object is to support the creation of a New Zealand republic . It is Chaired by Lewis Holden. The patron of the Movement is Keri Hulme, a New Zealand writer famous for her 1985 Booker Prize winning novel The Bone...
states that "creating a republic does not require any change to the Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
, flag or Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
membership", while NZFlag
NZ Flag.com Trust
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....
has stated that changing the flag "is not anti-royalist in any way".
For several decades, alternative designs have been proposed with varying degrees of support. There is no consensus among proponents of changing the flag as to which design should replace the flag.
Arguments for change
Proponents for change argue that:- The national flag is too similar to the flag of AustraliaFlag of AustraliaThe flag of Australia is a defaced Blue Ensign: a blue field with the Union Flag in the canton , and a large white seven-pointed star known as the Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter...
and the two are often confused. In 1984, Australian Prime Minister Bob HawkeBob HawkeRobert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
was greeted by New Zealand flags when visiting OttawaOttawaOttawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. - As a defaced Blue EnsignBlue EnsignThe Blue Ensign is a flag, one of several British ensigns, used by certain organisations or territories associated with the United Kingdom. It is used either plain, or defaced with a badge or other emblem....
, the national flag alludes to New Zealand being a colony or sub-part of the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. - The national flag ignores New Zealand's Māori heritage and other ethnic groups.
- Since 2004, the national flag has been adopted by white nationalistWhite nationalismWhite nationalism is a political ideology which advocates a racial definition of national identity for white people. White separatism and white supremacism are subgroups within white nationalism. The former seek a separate white nation state, while the latter add ideas from social Darwinism and...
groups such as the New Zealand National FrontNew Zealand National FrontThe New Zealand National Front is a small white nationalist political party in New Zealand.-First formation:Mirroring developments in the UK, a group called the National Front evolved out of the New Zealand branch of the League of Empire Loyalists in 1967...
.
Arguments against change
Opponents to change argue that:- The national flag has "stood the test of time."
- The national flag represents New Zealand's "strong ties" to the United Kingdom; and the history of the country as a part of the British EmpireBritish EmpireThe British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
and location in the southern hemisphereSouthern HemisphereThe Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"... - There have been no viable, attractive alternative flags put forward to replace New Zealand's current flag. Proposals focus too much on Māori and Pacific designs when most of New Zealand's heritage were Anglo-SaxonAnglo-SaxonsAnglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
and CelticModern CeltsA Celtic identity emerged in the "Celtic" nations of Western Europe, following the identification of the native peoples of the Atlantic fringe as "Celts" by Edward Lhuyd in the 18th century and during the course of the 19th-century Celtic Revival, taking the form of ethnic nationalism particularly...
. - Generations of New Zealanders have fought and died under it.
1970s
In November 1979 the Minister of Internal Affairs, Allan HighetAllan Highet
David Allan Highet QSO was a New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1966 to 1984, representing the National Party for Remuera, holding the then largest majorities in the House.-Early life and family:...
, suggested that the design of the flag should be changed, and sought an artist to design a new flag with a silver fern on the fly. The proposal attracted little support.
1980s
In 1988, Minister of Foreign Affairs Russell MarshallRussell Marshall
Cedric Russell Marshall, CNZM was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party, who had been a Methodist minister from 1960 to 1972, and school teacher 1955–56 and 1972.-Member of Parliament:...
made a call for a flag change, which also had little effect.
The Listener
The Listener
The Listener was a weekly magazine established by the BBC in January 1929 which ceased publication in 1991. The entire digitised catalogue was made available online to libraries, educational and research institutions in 2011....
magazine held a flag design contest in 1989, attracting nearly 600 entries. Out of the seven semi-finalists, which included the national flag and the United Tribes Flag, the national flag won with a minority vote of 45.6%.
1990s
In February 1992 the former Minister of Maori Affairs, Matiu Rata, called for a flag change "to re-establish our national identity".In 1998, Prime Minister Jenny Shipley
Jenny Shipley
Dame Jenny Shipley, DNZM , served as the 36th Prime Minister of New Zealand from December 1997 to December 1999, the first woman to hold this office and the first, and to date only, woman to serve as parliamentary leader of the National Party of New Zealand.-Early life:Shipley was born as Jennifer...
backed Cultural Affairs Minister Marie Hasler
Marie Hasler
Marie Bernadine Hasler is a former New Zealand politician. She was a member of Parliament for the National Party from 1990 to 1993, and then again from 1996 to 2002.-Early life:...
's call for the flag to be changed. Shipley, along with the New Zealand Tourism Board, supported the quasi-national silver fern flag
Silver fern flag
The 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,...
, using a white silver fern on a black background, along the lines of the Canadian maple leaf flag.
Both of these events were met with opposition from the Returned Services' Association
Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association
The Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association, often referred to as the Returned Services' Association but best known simply as the RSA, is one of the largest voluntary welfare organisations in New Zealand and one of the oldest ex-service organisations in the world.Wounded soldiers...
.
2000s
In 2004, the NZ Flag.com TrustNZ Flag.com Trust
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....
was founded by Lloyd Morrison with the aim of bringing about a non-binding referendum
Referendums in New Zealand
Referendums are held only occasionally by the Government of New Zealand. Ten referendums have been held so far...
on the subject. Under New Zealand law, a referendum may be held on any issue if 10% of electors sign a petition which is presented to Parliament. The Trust launched their petition for such a referendum in 2005. Their campaign used a stylised silver fern flag designed by Cameron Sanders.
In response to the petition, the New Zealand Flag Institute
New Zealand Flag Institute
The 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....
was founded to oppose the referendum campaign and promote the current flag, as well as to offer a more scholarly view of the flag. The Royal New Zealand Returned Services' Association
Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association
The Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association, often referred to as the Returned Services' Association but best known simply as the RSA, is one of the largest voluntary welfare organisations in New Zealand and one of the oldest ex-service organisations in the world.Wounded soldiers...
(RSA), the New Zealand organisation for war veterans, did not openly back the current flag at its annual conference, calling passing a remit that "It is the view of RNZRSA that any change to the New Zealand Flag should be solely the prerogative of the people of New Zealand as determined by a substantial majority of electors in a referendum. It is also the Association's view that this matter should be taken out of the political arena."
The petition attracted 100,000 signatures out of the required approximately 270,000 and was withdrawn in July 2005, well before the general election
New 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...
in September. The NZ Flag.com Trust cited public apathy to change as the main reason for withdrawing the petition.
2010s
In early 2010, John Key publicly backed the silver fern flag as a replacement for the national flag.Around the same time, the New Zealand Herald surveyed various political party leaders and the twenty two members of the Order of New Zealand
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
, with the results showing an even split.
Later, on 5 August, Labour list MP Charles Chauvel
Charles Chauvel (politician)
Charles Pierre Chauvel is a New Zealand lawyer and politician. Since 2006 he has been a Member of Parliament in the New Zealand House of Representatives. He is the first New Zealand MP of Tahitian ancestry...
introduced a members Bill
Private Member's Bill
A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...
for a consultative commission followed by a referendum on the New Zealand flag.
Proposals
The silver fern flag is a popular unofficial flag of New Zealand. The silver fern itself is a quasi-national emblem with current and historic usage including:- The coat of arms of New ZealandCoat of arms of New ZealandThe coat of arms of New Zealand is the official symbol of New Zealand. The initial coat of arms was granted by King George V on the 26 August 1911, and the current version was granted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1956.-History and design:...
- The New Zealand one dollar coinNew Zealand one dollar coinThe New Zealand one dollar coin is a coin of the New Zealand dollar. The current circulating coin was introduced on 11 February 1991 to replace the existing $1 note, although there had previously been occasional issues of commemorative "silver dollars", but they are rarely seen in circulation.The...
- The Silver FernsSilver FernsThe New Zealand national netball team, commonly known as the Silver Ferns, represent New Zealand in international netball. The team take their nickname from the Silver Tree Fern , which is an iconic emblem for many New Zealand sports teams. The Silver Ferns were formed in 1938 as a representative...
, New Zealand's national netball team - The All BlacksAll BlacksThe New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
, New Zealand's national rugby team - New Zealand ArmyNew Zealand ArmyThe New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
Second Division military insignia - New Zealand military insignia during the South African WarSecond Boer WarThe Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
(1899-1902) - New Zealand athletes competing in the boycotted 1980 Moscow Olympics
- The NZ Flag.com TrustNZ Flag.com TrustThe 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....
in their 2005 campaign
The proposal of replacing the national flag of New Zealand with the silver fern flag has been supported by Cultural Affairs Minister Marie Hasler
Marie Hasler
Marie Bernadine Hasler is a former New Zealand politician. She was a member of Parliament for the National Party from 1990 to 1993, and then again from 1996 to 2002.-Early life:...
, Prime Minister Jenny Shipley
Jenny Shipley
Dame Jenny Shipley, DNZM , served as the 36th Prime Minister of New Zealand from December 1997 to December 1999, the first woman to hold this office and the first, and to date only, woman to serve as parliamentary leader of the National Party of New Zealand.-Early life:Shipley was born as Jennifer...
and the New Zealand Tourism Board in 1998, and current Prime Minister John Key
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
in 2010.
The New Zealand Flag Institute
New Zealand Flag Institute
The 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....
, however, criticises the silver fern, which they say, is the logo of some of New Zealand's sporting teams rather than the country itself.
The United Tribes Flag was the national flag of New Zealand when it first declared independence in 1835, until the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
in 1840.
Friedensreich Hundertwasser's proposal, the "koru flag", represents an uncurling fern frond in the form of a stylised koru
Koru
The koru is a spiral shape based on the shape of a new unfurling silver fern frond and symbolizing new life, growth, strength and peace. It is an integral symbol in Māori art, carving and tattoos...
, a traditional Māori carving pattern. This flag is occasionally seen around the country.
Kyle Lockwood's proposal won a Wellington newspaper flag competition in July 2004 and appeared on TV3
TV3 (New Zealand)
TV3 is a New Zealand commercial television network, owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. Launched on 26 November 1989, the first private television network in New Zealand...
in 2005 after winning a poll which included the present national flag. The fern represents the people of New Zealand and the stars represent the location of New Zealand. The blue represents the ocean, the red represents the Māori and wartime sacrifices, and white represents the "land of the long white cloud" epithet.
James Dignan's proposal was displayed in the New Zealand Herald on 9 May 2002, at the time of the centenary of the current flag. It combines elements from the national flag, the Tino rangatiratanga
Tino rangatiratanga
Tino rangatiratanga is a Māori term that can be interpreted as chieftainship. It is probably the most contentious phrase from the Māori version of the Treaty of Waitangi...
flag and the silver fern flag. This combination both looked back to traditional links with the United Kingdom and forward to New Zealand's current place as a Polynesian cultural centre.
Helen Clark made her proposal while Prime Minister of New Zealand
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
. She said that deleting the Union Jack from the New Zealand flag was a possibility if people wanted to redesign the flag, leaving it as a "rather attractive Southern Cross."
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....
- Australian flag debateAustralian flag debateThe Australian flag debate is a debate over whether the Australian flag should be changed in order to remove the Union Flag from the canton, often in connection with the issue of republicanism in Australia...
- Great Canadian Flag Debate
- Northern Ireland flags issueNorthern Ireland flags issueThe Northern Ireland flags issue is one that divides the population along sectarian lines. Depending on political allegiance, people identify with differing flags and symbols, some of which have, or have had, official status in Northern Ireland....