2015–2016 New Zealand flag referendums

{{main|New Zealand flag debate}}

New Zealand has a history of debate about whether the national flag should be changed. 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.

In January 2014, Prime Minister John Key floated the idea of a referendum on a new flag at the 2014 general election.{{cite news | url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11193964 | title=Key suggests vote on New Zealand flag | work= The New Zealand Herald | date=30 January 2014 | access-date=7 February 2014 | author=Davison, Isaac}} The proposal was met with a mixed response.{{cite news | url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/235378/flag-change-in-the-wind | title=Flag change in the wind | work=Radio New Zealand News | date=6 February 2014 | access-date=7 February 2014}}{{cite news | url=http://www.odt.co.nz/news/queenstown-lakes/290308/opinions-vary-changing-nz-flag | title=Opinions vary on changing NZ flag | work=Otago Daily Times | date=4 February 2014 | access-date=7 February 2014 | author=Beech, James}} Then in March, Key announced that New Zealand would hold a referendum within the next three years asking whether to change the flag design, if the National Party be re-elected for a third term.{{cite news |last=Chapman |first=Paul|title=New Zealand to hold referendum on changing to 'post-colonial' flag |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/10688990/New-Zealand-to-hold-referendum-on-changing-to-post-colonial-flag.html |access-date=11 March 2014|work=The Telegraph |date=11 March 2014|location=London}} Following National's re-election the details of the referendum were announced.

The results of both referendums were binding, meaning the flag with the most votes in the second referendum would become the official flag of New Zealand.New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill, sec. 2 In the unlikely event the second referendum vote was tied, an assumption for the status quo would have applied.New Zealand Flag Referendums Act 2015, sec. 39

If a new flag design had been chosen, assuming no intellectual property issues, the Flags, Emblems and Names Protection Act 1981 would have been updated to reflect the new design six months to the day after the second referendum results were declared (or earlier by Order in Council). The current flag would have remained the official flag until then; for example, the current flag would have been flown during the 2016 Summer Olympics, four months after the second referendum took place, regardless of the results of the second referendum. This result would not have changed the coat of arms (which includes the current national flag), the national Māori flag, the flags of Associated States (Cook Islands and Niue), or the New Zealand Red Ensign (merchant marine), White Ensign (naval), (both incorporating Union Flags) police flag and fire service flag (which are based on the current flag).{{Citation |last=King|first=David|title=Regulatory Impact Statement: Considering Changing the New Zealand Flag|publisher=New Zealand Ministry of Justice}} It would also not change New Zealand's status as a constitutional monarchy in the Commonwealth of Nations.{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1506/S00066/flag-consideration-panel-answers-the-six-top-questions.htm|title=Flag Consideration Panel answers the six top questions|author=|date=6 June 2015|website=scoop.co.nz|publisher=Scoop Media|access-date=7 April 2015}}

If the flag had been changed, it would have been legal to have continued to fly the current flag of New Zealand, which would have been "recognised as a flag of historical significance."{{cite web|url=http://legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2015/0008/latest/DLM6405450.html?search=ts_act%40bill%40regulation%40deemedreg_Flag+Referendum+Bill_resel_25_a&p=1|title=New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill – amendments|year=2015|access-date=1 April 2015|publisher=Parliamentary Counsel Office}} Old flags would have been replaced once worn out.{{cite web|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/FAQs_4.pdf|title=Frequently asked questions|author=|date=29 October 2014|website=beehive.govt.nz|publisher=New Zealand Government|access-date=31 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031043434/http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/FAQs_4.pdf|archive-date=31 October 2014|url-status=dead}} Official documents depicting the current flag, such as driver licences, would have been phased out as a matter of course – in the case of driver licences, this would have been when licences are renewed and would therefore have taken up to 10 years.

New Zealand Government ships and those non-government ships flying the New Zealand flag (instead of the New Zealand Red Ensign) would have been given an extra six months to change their flag to the new design. Ships flying the New Zealand Red Ensign and ships belonging to the New Zealand Defence Force would not have been affected by any flag changes, nor would any New Zealand-based ships registered to foreign countries.{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2015/0008/latest/DLM6405458.html|title=New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill, Part 3, Clause 70|author=|date=12 March 2015|website=legislation.govt.nz|publisher=New Zealand government|access-date=5 April 2015}}{{cite web |title= §58 National colours and other flags – Ship Registration Act 1992 |url= http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1992/0089/latest/DLM276623.html |date= 1 July 2013 |website=legislation.govt.nz |publisher=New Zealand Government |access-date= 25 January 2016}}

The estimated cost of updating government flags and Defence Force uniforms was approximately $2.69 million. Other unknown costs include updating government ships, updating trademarks and logos, publicity of the new flag, excess stock of old flags (including products and souvenirs containing it), and updating all flags, packaging, uniforms and marketing material in the private and sporting sectors. The government would not have provided compensation for the cost of adopting the new flag.

Shortly after announcing the referendum, party leaders were invited to a cross-party group. The purpose of the cross-party group was to review draft legislation allowing for the referendums to take place, and to nominate candidates for a Flag Consideration Panel by mid February 2015. Members included Bill English (Finance Minister and leader of the group), Jonathan Young (representing National), Trevor Mallard (representing Labour), Kennedy Graham (representing Green), Marama Fox (representing Māori), David Seymour (representing ACT) and Peter Dunne (representing United Future). New Zealand First refused to participate.{{cite web|url=http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/sites/all/files/publications/nzflag-process-cabinet-paper-october2014.pdf|title=Cabinet Paper 451|author=Bill English|date=29 October 2014|website=beehive.govt.nz|publisher=New Zealand Government|access-date=31 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923223706/http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/sites/all/files/publications/nzflag-process-cabinet-paper-october2014.pdf|archive-date=23 September 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/63284397/flag-referendum-a-distraction|title=Flag referendum a 'distraction'| last=Gulliver| first=Aimee| date=17 November 2014|website=Stuff (company)|access-date=21 December 2014|archive-url= https://archive.today/20160630120510/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/63284397/flag-referendum-a-distraction |url-status=live|archive-date= 30 June 2016 }}

The Flag Consideration Panel was a separate group of "respected New Zealanders" with representative age, regional, gender and ethnic demographics. Their purpose was to publicise the process, seek flag submissions and suggestions from the public, and decide on a final shortlist of four suitable options for the first referendum. Public consultation took place between May and June 2015. The panel stated that it consulted vexillologists (flag experts) and designers to ensure that the flags chosen were workable and had no impediments.[https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/the-nz-flag-your-chance-to-decide/open-letter/ "Open letter from the Panel"]. New Zealand Government (Govt.nz). 17 December 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2016. The members of the Flag Consideration Panel were:{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/flag-debate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500876&objectid=11408325|title=Julie Christie and Beatrice Faumina to help decide NZ's new flag|last=Trevett|first=Claire|date=26 February 2015|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=5 April 2015}}

• Chair: John Burrows, former deputy chancellor of the University of Canterbury
• Deputy chair: Kate De Goldi, author
• Julie Christie, reality television producer
• Rod Drury, businessman
• Rhys Jones, former Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force
• Beatrice Faumuina, former discus thrower
• Brian Lochore, former All Blacks coach
• Nicky Bell, chief executive of New Zealand branch of Saatchi & Saatchi
• Peter Chin, former mayor of Dunedin
• Stephen Jones, youth councillor
• Malcolm Mulholland, academic
• Hana O'Regan, Māori studies academic

The legislation to set up the referendums passed its first Parliament hearing on 12 March 2015 with a vote of 76 to 43.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/flag-debate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500876&objectid=11416337|title=Flag change referendums come one step closer|last=Trevett|first=Claire|date=12 March 2015|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=5 April 2015}} It was then considered by the Justice and Electoral Select Committee. During their public submission intake phase the RSA launched the "Fight for the Flag" campaign, also backed by New Zealand First, to reverse the question order and first ask if New Zealanders want a flag change.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/flag-debate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500876&objectid=11432017|title=NZ First backs 'fight for the flag' campaign|last=Jones|first=Nicholas|date=13 April 2015|access-date=19 April 2015|work=The New Zealand Herald}} Labour MP Trevor Mallard presented a petition signed by 30,000 people to the committee, asking for a keep/change question to be added to the first referendum, similar to the 2011 voting system referendum.{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/flag-debate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500876&objectid=11444912|title= Flag debate votes a biased process – Mallard|author=|date=7 May 2015| work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=10 May 2015}} During its second hearing in Parliament, MP Jacinda Ardern proposed an amendment so that the second referendum would only take place if turnout for the first referendum was at least 50%, as a way of ensuring majority rule and reducing costs if the public was apathetic. Ardern's proposal was voted down and the bill was passed as-is on 29 July 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/debates/debates/51HansD_20150729_00000024/new-zealand-flag-referendums-bill-%E2%80%94-in-committee|title=New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill — In Committee|author=|date=29 July 2015|access-date=3 August 2015|website=parliament.nz|publisher=New Zealand House of Representatives}}

File:Silver-fern.jpg frond, a common element in many flag designs]]

File:Silver fern.svg

As part of the public engagement process, flag designs and symbolism/value suggestions were solicited until 16 July, which resulted in a total of 10,292 design suggestions.{{cite web |url=https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/the-nz-flag-your-chance-to-decide/gallery/ |title=Flag design gallery |author= |website=govt.nz |publisher=New Zealand Government |access-date=16 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905123627/https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/the-nz-flag-your-chance-to-decide/gallery/ |archive-date=5 September 2015 |url-status=dead }} All 10,292 submitted design proposals were presented to the public on the New Zealand government website.{{cite news|title=All Suggested Designs|url=https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/the-nz-flag-your-chance-to-decide/gallery/?sort=random|publisher=The New Zealand Government|access-date=11 December 2015|archive-date=5 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505034139/https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/the-nz-flag-your-chance-to-decide/gallery/?sort=random|url-status=dead}}

During the public engagement process, the Flag Consideration Panel travelled around the country for workshops and hui. These in-person consultation events were noted to have markedly low attendance.{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/flag-debate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500876&objectid=11482801 |title=Flag show at half mast |date=18 July 2015 |last=Trevett |first=Claire |work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=19 July 2015}} The consideration panel noted strong online engagement with over 850,000 visits to the website and 1,180,000 engagements on social media.{{cite web |url=https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/the-nz-flag-your-chance-to-decide/project-updates/report-to-responsible-minister/ |title=The Panel's report to the Responsible Minister |website=Govt.nz |access-date=7 December 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304210431/https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/the-nz-flag-your-chance-to-decide/project-updates/report-to-responsible-minister/ |url-status=dead }}

The panel reported that feedback found the themes of freedom, history, equality, respect and family to be the most significant to New Zealanders, however it was later revealed that those themes were dwarfed by the amount of feedback critical of the flag change process.{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Nippert |date=13 November 2015 |title=Flag process: Was it a spin job? |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11544460 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=27 November 2015}} From the submitted designs they found the most common colours were white, blue, red, black, and green. The most common elements incorporated into the flag designs were the Southern Cross, silver fern, kiwi, and koru. The main themes incorporated into the designs were Māori culture, nature and history.

The flag of the United Tribes and the Tino Rangatiratanga flag were not considered as eligible options as a result of consultation with Māori groups.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11612563|title=Maori flag attitudes a puzzler |last=Young|first=Audrey|date=28 March 2016|work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=25 May 2019}}

The flag referendum gained considerable global awareness when international media took interest in one of the designs that failed to make the long list after Lucy Gray's Fire the Lazer design appeared in John Oliver's comedic report on the New Zealand flag referendum.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_2tL--HMIo|title=John Oliver: NZ Flag Debate|last=Oliver|first=John|date=18 Aug 2015|work=YouTube |access-date=20 Feb 2025}}

From the 10,292 submitted designs, the Flag Consideration Panel deliberations resulted in their selection of a "long list" shortlist of 40 designs (announced to the public on 10 August 2015).{{cite news |first=Audrey |last=Young |date=11 August 2015 |title=Forty flags, and only one with a Union Jack—so which one is best? |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11495030 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=28 September 2015}}

File:NZ flag design Wa kainga Home by Studio Alexander.svg|Wā kāinga / Home by Studio Alexander {{#tag:ref|The Wā kāinga won the top $20,000 prize in a privately organised competition run by the Gareth Morgan Foundation.{{cite web|url=http://designmyflag.nz/morgan-foundation-flag-competition-judging-results/|title=Morgan Foundation Flag Competition Judging Results|website=designmyflag.nz|publisher=Gareth Morgan Foundation|date=24 July 2015|access-date=29 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019102348/http://designmyflag.nz/morgan-foundation-flag-competition-judging-results/|archive-date=19 October 2015|url-status=dead}}|name=Wā kāinga | group=note}}

File:NZ flag design Land Of The Long White Cloud (Ocean Blue) by Mike Archer.svg|Land Of The Long White Cloud (Ocean Blue) by Mike Archer

File:NZ flag design Land Of The Long White Cloud (Traditional Blue) by Mike Archer.svg|Land Of The Long White Cloud (Traditional Blue) by Mike Archer

File:NZ flag design Huihui Together by Sven Baker.svg|Huihui/Together by Sven Baker

File:NZ flag design Silver Fern (Black & Silver) by Sven Baker.jpg|Silver Fern (Black & Silver) by Sven Baker

File:NZ flag design Southern Cross Horizon by Sven Baker.svg|Southern Cross Horizon by Sven Baker

File:NZ flag design Southern Koru by Sven Baker.JPG|Southern Koru by Sven Baker

File:NZ flag design Unity Koru (Red & Blue) by Sven Baker.svg|Unity Koru by Sven Baker

File:NZ flag design Inclusive by Dominic Carroll.svg|Inclusive by Dominic Carroll

File:NZ flag design Moving Forward by Dominic Carroll.svg|Moving Forward by Dominic Carroll

File:NZ flag design The Seven Stars of Matariki by Matthew Clare.jpg|The Seven Stars of Matariki by Matthew Clare

File:NZ flag design Silver Fern (Green) by Roger Clarke.jpg|Silver Fern (Green) by Roger Clarke

File:NZ flag design Curly Koru by Daniel Crayford and Leon Cayford.jpg|Curly Koru by Daniel Crayford and Leon Cayford

File:NZ flag design Koru Fin by Daniel Crayford and Leon Cayford.jpg|Koru Fin by Daniel Crayford and Leon Cayford

File:NZ flag design Modern Hundertwasser by Tomas Cottle.svg|Modern Hundertwasser koru by Tomas Cottle {{#tag:ref| The "Modern Hundertwasser" was later removed following a copyright claim from the Hundertwasser Non-Profit Foundation.{{Cite news|url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/01/new-zealands-new-flag-final-four-designs-announced|title = New Zealand's new flag: final four designs announced|last = Hunt|first = Elle|date = 1 September 2015|access-date = 12 September 2015|work=The Guardian }}|name=Hundertwasser | group=note}}

File:NZ flag design NZ One by Travis Cunningham.jpg|NZ One by Travis Cunningham

File:NZ flag design Black Jack by Mike Davison.jpg|Black Jack by Mike Davison

File:NZ flag design Unity Koru by Paul Densem.svg|Unity Koru by Paul Densem

File:NZ flag design New Southern Cross by Wayne William Doyle.svg|New Southern Cross by Wayne William Doyle

File:NZ flag design Red Peak by Aaron Dustin.svg|Red peak by Aaron Dustin

File:NZ flag design Manawa (Black & Green) by Otis Frizzell.jpg|Manawa (Black & Green) by Otis Frizzell

File:NZ flag design Manawa (Blue & Green) by Otis Frizzell.svg|Manawa (Blue & Green) by Otis Frizzell

File:NZ flag design Embrace (Red & Blue) by Denise Fung.svg|Embrace (Red & Blue) by Denise Fung

File:NZ flag design Koru (Black) by Andrew Fyfe.svg|Koru (Black) by Andrew Fyfe

File:NZ flag design Koru (Blue) by Andrew Fyfe.svg|Koru (Blue) by Andrew Fyfe

File:NZ flag design Unity Fern (Red & Blue) by Paul Jackways (redesign).svg|Unity Fern (Red & Blue) by Paul Jackways

File:NZ flag design White & Black Fern by Alofi Kanter.svg|White and Black Fern by Alofi Kanter

File:NZ flag design Silver Fern (Black & White) by Alofi Kanter.svg|Silver Fern (Black and White) by Alofi Kanter

File:NZ flag design New Zealand Matariki by John Kelleher.svg|New Zealand Matariki by John Kelleher

File:NZ flag design Silver Fern (Black with Red Stars) by Kyle Lockwood.svg|Silver Fern (Black with Red Stars) by Kyle Lockwood

File:NZ flag design Silver Fern (Red, White & Blue) by Kyle Lockwood.svg|Silver Fern (Red, White and Blue) by Kyle Lockwood

File:NZ flag design Silver Fern (Black & White) by Kyle Lockwood.svg|Silver Fern (Black & White) by Kyle Lockwood

File:NZ flag design Silver Fern (Black, White & Red) by Kyle Lockwood.svg|Silver Fern (Black, White and Red) by Kyle Lockwood

File:NZ flag design Silver Fern (Black, White & Blue) by Kyle Lockwood.svg|Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue) by Kyle Lockwood

File:NZ flag design Pikopiko by Grant Pascoe.jpg|Pikopiko by Grant Pascoe

File:NZ flag design Finding Unity in Community by Dave Sauvage.jpg|Finding Unity in Community by Dave Sauvage

File:NZ flag design Fern (Green, Black & White) by Clay Sinclair and Sandra Ellmers.jpg|Fern (Green, Black & White) by Clay Sinclair and Sandra Ellmers

File:NZ flag design Koru and Stars by Alan Tran.jpg|Koru and Stars by Alan Tran

File:NZ flag design Raranga by Pax Zwanikken.jpg|Raranga by Pax Zwanikken

File:NZ flag design Tukutuku by Pax Zwanikken.svg|Tukutuku by Pax Zwanikken

{{Reflist|group=note}}

On 1 September 2015, the Flag Consideration Panel announced the four designs to be included in the first referendum.{{cite news |first=Claire |last=Trevett |date=1 September 2015 |title=NZ flag referendum: The final four designs revealed |work=The New Zealand Herald |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11505765 |access-date=28 September 2015}} After public disappointment with the official shortlist, a social media campaign was launched on 2 September{{cite web |title=Dear John |first=Rowan |last=Simpson |date=2 September 2015 |url=http://rowansimpson.com/2015/09/02/dear-john/}} for the Red Peak flag. On 23 September, the Green Party MP Gareth Hughes attempted to introduce a bill to parliament to include Red Peak as an option in the first referendum. Prime Minister John Key confirmed that the National Party would pick up the legislation, meaning the Red Peak flag was added as a fifth option in the flag referendum.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11517757 |title=Flag referendum: Red Peak design to be added as fifth option – John Key – National – NZ Herald News |website=The New Zealand Herald |date=23 September 2015 |access-date=7 December 2015}}

The referendum process and alternative flag designs were heavily criticised. Commentators identified many issues and reasons for failure, the most significant of which are listed below.

Prime Minister John Key's drive to run the referendums was seen as disproportionate compared to apathy among the public.{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/the-flag-debate/78253159/duncan-garner-the-flagging-fortunes-of-a-leader-chasing-a-legacy|title=Duncan Garner: The flagging fortunes of a leader chasing a legacy|last=Garner|first=Duncan|date=24 March 2016|website=Stuff (company)}} Members of parliament accused the referendums as Key's "vanity project", populist bread and circuses, a distraction from poverty and housing issues, or a vehicle to establish a personal legacy. In hindsight, the National Business Review suggests that politicisation contributed to the referendum's failure, because the debate and the alternative flag designs were so heavily associated with Key and the National Party rather than the actual flag change itself. Key's campaigning was noted as perplexing and ineffectual. His statements on the topic of New Zealand's identity and colonial legacy were mixed, which confused the public. Additionally, he relied on his own existing popularity as the face of the referendum to persuade the public,{{cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/299917/flag-'debate'-always-lacked-substance|last=Macdonald|first=Finlay|title=Flag 'debate' always lacked substance|date=26 March 2016|website=RNZ |publisher=Radio New Zealand }}{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11611434|title=Audrey Young: John Key a loser on flag referendum but not a failure|last=Young|first=Audrey|date=25 March 2016|work=The New Zealand Herald}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11611838|title=Audrey Young: Lessons to learn from flag vote|last=Young|first=Audrey|date=26 March 2016|work=The New Zealand Herald}}{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/78265500/political-week-john-keys-top-five-regrets-on-the-flag|title=Political week: John Key's top five regrets on the flag|last=Watkins|first=Tracy|date=26 March 2016|website=Stuff (company)}} with a change the flag campaign by Change the NZ Flag.{{cite web|url=http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/change-nz-flag-launches-campaign/5/220298|title=Change the NZ Flag launches campaign|date=4 May 2015|publisher=Change the NZ Flag|access-date=22 July 2019}} Opposition parties had hitherto supported a flag referendum as party policy, but took the opportunity to politicise this referendum. By focusing on defeating Key himself and criticising the integrity of the process at every stage, the public was split along political party lines and it devolved into a referendum on Key, with many voting for the current flag as a protest vote against him.{{cite web|url=https://karldufresne.blogspot.com/2016/03/i-barely-recognise-my-fellow-new.html|title= I barely recognise my fellow New Zealanders|last=du Fresne|first=Karl|date=20 March 2016|website=blogspot.co.nz}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbr.co.nz/fail|title=Five reasons the flag-change campaign failed|date=24 March 2016|website=The National Business Review|language=en|access-date=17 May 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11611470|title= 'Wasteful vanity project' and 'starry-eyed sheep' – How world reacted to flag result|date=24 March 2016|access-date=19 May 2019|work=The New Zealand Herald}}{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/the-flag-debate/78314441/chris-trotter-whoops-and-cheers-for-democracys-flag|last=Trotter|first=Chris|date=28 March 2016|title=Chris Trotter: Whoops and cheers for democracy's flag|website=Stuff (company)}} For example, according to a January 2016 poll by UMR, 16% of those sampled said that they planned to vote to "send a message to John Key".{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/flag-debate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500876&objectid=11600218|title=Current flag still preferred – poll|work=The New Zealand Herald |date=4 March 2016|access-date=5 March 2016}} Key's inclusion of the Red Peak design in the shortlist at the request of the Green Party was seen as a belated and futile appeasement, and cross-party support was necessary from the very beginning of the process.

Members of parliament were also concerned about the timing. Some expressed disgust at the timing of the bill just before the centenary of the Gallipoli landing, some said the process was rushed, and Louisa Wall said that no significant event had occurred to warrant a flag change at this time. Others said it was more important to become a republic before considering whether to remove a symbol of British rule from the flag.{{cite web|url=http://nandor.net.nz/2015/09/02/getting-our-flag-off-a-weetbix-box/|title=Getting our flag off a weetbix box |last=Tánczos|first=Nándor|date=2 September 2015|access-date=5 September 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/299864/how-the-world-saw-nz's-flag-decision|title=How the world saw NZ's flag decision|date=26 March 2016|publisher=Radio NZ |access-date=19 May 2019}} Political commentators also suggested that the timing was futile. Matthew Hooton pointed out that there would have been sufficient national momentum in the aftermath of the 2011 Rugby World Cup instead. Morgan Godfery suggested that the public kept the current flag due to insecurity about cultural identity at a time when familiar cultural touchstones like house ownership, the dairy industry and demographics were undergoing upheaval.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/25/new-zealand-referendum-same-flag-what-was-that-about|last=Hunt|first=Elle|title=Ten months, 10,000 designs, no new flag for New Zealand. What was that about?|date=25 March 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=19 May 2019}} Audrey Young suggested that the process was too rushed, and a longer one lasting at least two electoral cycles would have allowed more time for opposition party support and the possibility of a Labour prime minister overseeing the final result. Martin Kettle cited status quo bias as a critical influence in referendums and noted that change is typically only possible if there is a previously existing, firm, well-informed movement for change.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/24/new-zealand-flag-britain-eu-referendum|title=New Zealand's decision on the flag has lessons for Britain's EU referendum|last=Kettle|first=Martin|date=24 March 2016|work=The Guardian }}

Opposition parties condemned the flag as low priority compared to current issues in the public consciousness such as education, health and housing. Trevor Mallard and Phil Goff cited the results of recent opinion polls that showed public opposition or apathy to a flag change.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/debates/debates/51HansD_20150312_00000012/new-zealand-flag-referendums-bill-%E2%80%94-first-reading|title=New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill — First Reading|author=|date=12 March 2015|website=parliament.nz|publisher=New Zealand Parliament|access-date=5 April 2015}}

Opposition parties, Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association (RSA) president Barry Clark and members of the public criticised the referendum plan for costing $26 million which could be spent on other issues.{{cite news|last1=Garner|first1=Duncan|title=Duncan Garner: Flag this irrelevant debate and spend $26m on hungry kids|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/68392405/duncan-garner-flag-this-irrelevant-debate-and-spend-26m-on-hungry-kids|access-date=25 August 2015|work=The Dominion Post|date=9 May 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Thorne|first1=Dylan|title=Editorial: $25.7m flag is wrong legacy|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11414778|access-date=25 August 2015|agency=Bay of Plenty Times |publisher=NZME Publishing Limited|date=10 March 2015}}{{cite news|title=New Zealand considers options to replace its flag|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/zealand-changing-flag-150812192231100.html|access-date=25 August 2015|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=12 August 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Hunt|first1=Elle|title=New Zealand's prime minister John Key wants a new flag. Does anybody else?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/11/new-zealands-prime-minister-john-key-wants-a-new-flag-does-anybody-else|access-date=25 August 2015|work=The Guardian |date=10 August 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wort.lu/en/panorama/referendum-planned-for-2015-new-zealanders-to-vote-on-changing-union-jack-style-flag-5450869ab9b3988708080766|title=New Zealanders to vote on changing Union Jack-style flag|date=29 October 2014|publisher=Luxemburger Wort|access-date=14 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304205113/http://www.wort.lu/en/panorama/referendum-planned-for-2015-new-zealanders-to-vote-on-changing-union-jack-style-flag-5450869ab9b3988708080766|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/25381933/mps-torn-on-flag-referendum-cost/|title=MPs torn on flag referendum|last1=Cook|first1=Frances|last2=McQuillan|first2=Laura|website=yahoo.co.nz|publisher=Newstalk ZB |date=30 October 2014|access-date=21 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221041504/https://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/25381933/mps-torn-on-flag-referendum-cost/|archive-date=21 December 2014|url-status=dead}} The $4 million publicity campaign for the national tour was especially criticised as public turnout was markedly apathetic; some admitted that they attended just for free biscuits, and at the Christchurch event only ten people arrived.{{cite web|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/campbelllive/does-new-zealand-care-about-a-new-flag-2015051919|title=Does New Zealand care about a new flag?|last=Campbell|first=John|date=19 May 2015|website=3news.co.nz|publisher=TV3|access-date=19 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117031225/http://www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/campbelllive/does-new-zealand-care-about-a-new-flag-2015051919|archive-date=17 November 2015|url-status=dead}}

Key defended the cost of the referendum by stating that it was the price to ensure a genuine democratic process and would be a one-off cost for the next "50 to 100 years" regardless of the result.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11350245|title=Taxpayers face $25 million bill even if old flag stays|last=Bennett|first=Adam|date=30 October 2014|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=21 December 2014}} David King pointed out that a stronger brand image for the country could lead to a net financial gain, especially through exports and tourism, with Key pointing out the precedent of Canada changing to its current maple-leaf flag.

During the first Parliamentary hearing, Labour Party, NZ First, Green Party and Māori Party expressed dissatisfaction with the order of the questions and said that the public should first be asked whether they want a change, and continue with a second referendum only if they do, or both questions compacted into one referendum, which could potentially save millions of dollars. David Seymour (ACT's representative in the Cross-Party Group) said that the planned order made sense, as the public would need to see the alternative designs before deciding on a change.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/flag-debate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500876&objectid=11415798|title=Labour to oppose flag bill|last=Trevett|first=Claire|date=12 March 2015|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=5 April 2015}} Professor John Burrows, chair of the Flag Consideration Panel, agreed that familiarity with proposals was a prerequisite for a properly informed decision about them.

Various members of parliament accused the process and documents of being biased. Trevor Mallard and Phil Goff claimed that the final list of members of the Flag Consideration Panel was numerically slanted towards those nominated by the National Party, despite the shortlist of candidates being roughly neutral. Denis O'Rourke said that the shortlisting process was undemocratic because the Flag Consideration Panel would select the final flag design options on behalf of New Zealanders. Stuart Nash presented quotes in the Regulatory Impact Statement document admitting that referendum options were restricted by prior decisions by the prime minister and National Party dominated Cabinet, accusing them of pre-determining the process.

A third-party analysis of submissions to the consideration panel's StandFor.co.nz website revealed that negative submissions were filtered out and disregarded in the panel's report and the associated and widely publicised word cloud. According to this analysis, the largest term in the official word cloud, "equality", appeared in 4.89% of comments, whereas "keeping the current flag" was the most common theme and represented 31.96% of comments.{{cite web|url=http://insights.nzherald.co.nz/article/the-flag-debate|title=The Flag Debate|publisher=Herald Insights|first=Caleb|last=Tutty|date=13 November 2015|access-date=27 November 2015}} According to opposition MP Trevor Mallard this shows that the flag change process suffered from "total spin" and that the panel pushed to change the flag in breach of its mandate to be neutral.

Documents revealed that Flag Consideration Panel judge Julie Christie was a board member of the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) body New Zealand Story where she "had formally agreed to support the use of the NZ Way Fern Mark in any flag design". This fern design ended up as one of the shortlist entries. Christie had declared this as a potential conflict of interest but it was dismissed as minor.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11511139|title=Flag judge Julie Christie's conflicts of interest|last=Fisher|first=David|date=11 September 2015|access-date=11 September 2015|work=The New Zealand Herald}}

After the Flag Consideration Panel revealed the four shortlisted designs, some noticed that three out of the four designs coincided with Prime Minister John Key's personal design preferences. (3/4 contained a silver fern until the Red Peak flag was added) Thus, the panel was accused of being sycophantic and undermining their mandate to be neutral and democratic, which restricted the options available to the public and ruined the reputation of the whole process.

The National Business Review criticised the use of crowdsourcing to solicit flag designs that became publicly viewable on the government's website. Crowdsourcing processes have historically been inundated by unqualified participants submitting large numbers of very low-quality, plagiarised or malicious contributions that ignore standard rules and best practices, with a high administrative burden to identify which ones are legal and serviceable. Crowdsourcing has especially proved unsuitable for tasks that require training or expertise. For example, in an expert review of hundreds of photographs submitted to the news site NU.nl, 86% of submissions were deemed unusable and only one photograph was considered professional quality.{{cite web |title= The Case For and Against Crowdsourcing: Part 2 |url= http://www.crowdsourcing.org/editorial/the-case-for-and-against-crowdsourcing-part-2/2850 |first= Irma |last= Borst |access-date= 9 February 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150912024759/http://www.crowdsourcing.org/editorial/the-case-for-and-against-crowdsourcing-part-2/2850 |archive-date= 12 September 2015 |url-status= usurped }} In the case of the flag referendums, the flag solicitation process was treated as a joke by the public and garnered far too many amateurish and facetious proposals. These were openly viewable on the government's website and became disseminated and mocked on worldwide media, threatening the prestige of the whole process.

Commentators felt that the Flag Consideration Panel did not have the expertise to make any adequate flag design judgements, since none of its members had any credentials or experience in the fields of graphic design, art or vexillology.{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/71632042/twitter-unhappy-with-the-final-four-new-zealand-flags |title=What Twitter said about the final four New Zealand flag options |last1=Cooke |first1=Henry |last2=Fyers |first2=Andy|date=1 September 2015 |website=Stuff (company) |access-date=1 September 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/-which-bad-flag-design-will-the-rest-of-world-ignore-from-now-on-aussies-q08539 |title='Which bad flag design will the rest of the world ignore from now on' – Aussies |author= |date=1 September 2015 |website=tvnz.co.nz |publisher=TVNZ |access-date=1 September 2015 |archive-date=13 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813200031/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/-which-bad-flag-design-will-the-rest-of-world-ignore-from-now-on-aussies-q08539 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/-lol-even-laser-beam-kiwi-would-be-better-social-media-reacts-to-flag-semi-finalists-q08500.html |title='Lol...even laser beam kiwi would be better' – social media reacts to flag semi-finalists |author= |date=1 September 2015 |website=tvnz.co.nz |publisher=TVNZ |access-date=1 September 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054436/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/-lol-even-laser-beam-kiwi-would-be-better-social-media-reacts-to-flag-semi-finalists-q08500.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-01/nz-announces-four-flag-finalists/6740674 |title=New Zealand announces shortlist for new flag design|author= |date=1 September 2015 |publisher=Yahoo! |access-date=1 September 2015}}{{cite web |url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-01/nz-announces-four-flag-finalists/6740674 |title=New Zealand announces shortlist for new flag design|author= |date=1 September 2015 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=1 September 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11507494 |last=Manhire |first=Toby|title=Toby Manhire: Let's run up the red flag|date=4 September 2015 |work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=5 September 2014}}{{cite web |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11507328 |title=Renowned designer slams flag process |last=Story |first=Mark |date=3 September 2015|access-date=5 September 2015 |work=The New Zealand Herald}}{{cite web |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11509184 |title=Gareth Morgan: Back up the flag bus now |last=Morgan |first=Gareth |date=7 September 2015|access-date=11 September 2015 |work=The New Zealand Herald}}{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1603/S00077/flawed-referendum-process-on-changing-new-zealands-flag.htm|title=Flawed Referendum Process on changing New Zealand's Flag|author=NZ Flag Institute|date=4 March 2016|access-date=19 May 2019|website=scoop.co.nz}}{{Excessive citations inline|date=December 2024}} A spokesman responded that "it was considered that panel members did not need specialist skills in art, design, legal or intellectual property" and that consultation with experts would be sufficient. The panel stated that it consulted vexillologists and designers to ensure that the flags chosen were workable and had no impediments. According to journalist Grant McLachlan, the panel consulted a Nike shoe designer and not any vexillologists. Illustrator Toby Morris condemned the process as "design by committee" and noted that the structural issues were so obvious that he and other designers were able to predict the selections and outcome as soon as the process was announced. Some commentators suggested that the flags should have been evaluated only by professional designers. Nándor Tánczos opined that the Flag Consideration Panel denied the public a chance to choose their favourite designs by deciding on their behalf, since the public had no input or voting on the flag selection.

Professionals have pointed out that the process ignored established best practices in the fields of market research, design and vexillology.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/winning-new-zealand-flag-design-your-views/14246729/The-missing-vote-in-New-Zealands-flag-referendum|last=Neal|first=Geoff|title=The missing vote in New Zealand's flag referendum|date=21 March 2016|access-date=19 May 2019|publisher=Stuff }} Missing elements included clear research questions, artistic criteria, requirements elicitation, prototyping, monetary reward, direct public consultation on the longlist and shortlist selections, design iteration, deadline extensions and consideration of choice architecture such as randomisation.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/winning-new-zealand-flag-design-your-views/14283879/12-things-the-flag-process-got-very-wrong|last=Neal|first=Geoff|title=12 things the flag process got very wrong|date=25 March 2016|publisher=Stuff |access-date=19 May 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/winning-new-zealand-flag-design-your-views/14316790/How-to-get-the-flag-referendum-right-next-time|title=How to get the flag referendum right next time|last=Lusk|first=Chris|date=29 March 2016|access-date=19 May 2019|website=Stuff (company)|publisher=Stuff }}{{cite web|url=http://www.designassembly.org.nz/articles/questions-flag-consideration-panel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321220434/http://www.designassembly.org.nz/articles/questions-flag-consideration-panel|last=Smythe|first=Michael|date=11 March 2015|title= Questions for the Flag Consideration Panel|archive-date=21 March 2016|publisher=Design Assembly}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2016/03/why_the_flag_vote_was_for_the_status_quo.html|last=Farrar|first=David|title=Why the flag vote was for the status quo|date=24 March 2016|website=kiwiblog.co.nz}} Those who criticised the use of crowdsourcing sometimes suggested that design professionals should have been given a core role in the creation of the flag designs. For comparison, the North American Vexillological Association's accepted flag design process also involves soliciting public design suggestions, but these submissions are seen only by design experts and vexillologists who then evaluate the entries and make necessary refinements or make new designs based on the suggestions.{{cite web|url=http://nava.org/digital-library/design/case-studies/Redesigning-the-Oregon-State-Flag.pdf|title=Redesigning the Oregon State Flag: A Case Study|last=Kaye|first=Ted|date=November 2009|access-date=19 May 2019}}

The flag design shortlist was met with negative response from most members of the public, professional designers and the International Federation of Vexillological Associations,{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11510969|title=Grant McLachlan: Flag debate now a political turf war |last=McLachlan|first=Grant|date=10 September 2015|access-date=11 September 2015 |work=The New Zealand Herald}} with the selection labelled "a national disgrace" by writer Karl Puschmann{{cite web |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11506245 |title=Flag designs a national disgrace |last=Puschmann|first=Karl|date=1 September 2015 |work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=1 September 2015}} and "tea towels of Kiwiana" by Gareth Morgan. The selection was lambasted as unappealing, clichéd, dull, superficial and too logo-like. There were complaints that the four initial designs did not offer sufficient variety, as only one did not feature a large silver fern dividing the field, and two were identical except for a colour choice, prompting accusations of groupthink and favouritism amongst the panel.{{cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/299874/flag-failure-where-did-it-go-wrong|title=Flag failure: Where did it go wrong?|last=Morris|first=Toby|date=25 March 2016|access-date=19 May 2019|website=RNZ |publisher=Radio NZ }} For critics of the referendum process, the problems with the design selection confirmed the ineptitude they had long suspected of the panel. In hindsight, those analysing the reasons for the referendums' failure have posited that the quality of the official selection was so poor that it effectively prevented the possibility of a flag change.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2016/mar/24/was-the-new-zealand-flag-vote-completely-futile-video|title=Was the New Zealand flag vote completely futile? – video|date=24 March 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=19 May 2019}} Some proposed that the outcome reflected the public's negative reception of the Kyle Lockwood design more than their underlying attitudes about flag change or national identity.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/24/new-zealand-flag-britain-status-quo|title=In New Zealand, the flag remains the same. And so does everything else|last=Manhire|first=Toby|date=24 March 2016|work=The Guardian }}

In September, the initial shortlist of four flags was amended to include the Red Peak flag after an online petition accrued 50,000 signatures. NZ First leader Winston Peters, former National Party official Grant McLachlan and others felt that instead of respectfully incorporating wider public opinion, this inclusion was an arbitrary deference to a trendy but unrepresentative social media campaign at the expense of established procedure and other, larger social media campaigns about the flag. McLachlan demonstrated that online signatures could easily be forged by recording himself signing the petition sixteen times and fraudulently impersonating members of parliament. They accused the campaign of having dubious credibility and chided the government for considering the petition without checking the details sufficiently.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11518994|title=Red Peak petition 'conned'|last=Fisher|first=David|work=The New Zealand Herald|date=26 September 2015|access-date=26 September 2015}}

If the New Zealand flag changes, which flag would you prefer?{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2015/0008/latest/DLM6405459.html|title=New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill – Schedule 1|website=legislation.govt.nz|publisher=New Zealand Government|date=29 July 2015|access-date=3 August 2015}}

File:NZ flag design Silver Fern (Black, White & Blue) by Kyle Lockwood.svg|Option A

File:NZ flag design Red Peak by Aaron Dustin.svg|Option B

File:NZ flag design Koru (Black) by Andrew Fyfe.svg|Option C

File:NZ flag design Silver Fern (Black & White) by Alofi Kanter.svg|Option D

File:NZ flag design Silver Fern (Red, White & Blue) by Kyle Lockwood.svg|Option E

The first referendum started on 20 November 2015 with voting closing three weeks later on 11 December 2015. It used the preferential voting systen.{{cite web|title=Referendums on the New Zealand Flag > Voting in the first referendum > How Preferential Voting works|url=http://www.elections.org.nz/events/referendums-new-zealand-flag-0/voting-first-referendum/how-preferential-voting-works|website=elections.org.nz|publisher=New Zealand Electoral Commission|access-date=5 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208095108/http://www.elections.org.nz/events/referendums-new-zealand-flag-0/voting-first-referendum/how-preferential-voting-works|archive-date=8 December 2015|url-status=dead}} It asked voters to rank the five shortlisted flag alternatives in order of preference. The winner under the IRV method would contend with the current national flag in a second referendum.{{cite web|url=http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/sites/all/files/publications/nzflag-process-cabinet-paper-october2014-appendix1.pdf|title=Process to consider changing New Zealand flag|author=|date=29 October 2014|website=beehive.govt.nz|publisher=New Zealand Government|access-date=31 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031044457/http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/sites/all/files/publications/nzflag-process-cabinet-paper-october2014-appendix1.pdf|archive-date=31 October 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Flags/Four-alternatives-English.pdf|title=Four alternatives|author=Various|website=govt.nz|date=1 September 2015|access-date=1 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914212511/https://www.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Flags/Four-alternatives-English.pdf|archive-date=14 September 2015|url-status=dead}}

Opponents of flag change encouraged members of the public to abstain from voting, render the voting paper invalid or strategically vote for the worst alternative flag as a protest.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/flag-debate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500876&objectid=11506413|title=Revealed: Plots to gerrymander flag referendum|last=Trevett|first=Claire|date=2 September 2015|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=2 September 2015}}

Preliminary results were released on the night of 11 December; official results were declared on 15 December. A majority of voters gave higher preferences for Kyle Lockwood's Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue) design than for any of the four other options.

Non-transferable votes include voting papers that were not able to be transferred, as all of the preferences given had been exhausted. Informal votes include voting papers in which the voter had not clearly indicated their first preference. Invalid votes include voting papers that were unreadable or cancelled.

The added work of calculating results for individual electorates under preferential voting made no vote breakdown by electorate be available.

What is your choice for the New Zealand flag?{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2015/0008/latest/DLM6405461.html|title=New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill – Schedule 2|website=legislation.govt.nz|publisher=New Zealand Government|date=29 July 2015|access-date=3 August 2015}}

File:NZ flag design Silver Fern (Black, White & Blue) by Kyle Lockwood.svg|Option 1 (alternative design)

File:Flag of New Zealand.svg|Option 2 (existing design)

The second referendum started on 3 March 2016 with voting closing three weeks later on 24 March 2016. It asked voters to choose between the existing New Zealand flag and the preferred alternative design selected in the first referendum.{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2015/0008/latest/DLM6405360.html|title=New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill, Part 2, Subpart 4, Clause 20|author=|date=12 March 2015|website=legislation.govt.nz|publisher=New Zealand government|access-date=5 April 2015}}

On 24 March 2016, the preliminary results of the second referendum were announced with the current flag winning 56.7% compared to 43.3% for the new flag.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35888474|title=New Zealand votes to keep flag in referendum | work=BBC News | date=24 March 2016 | access-date=24 March 2016}}

Invalid votes include voting papers that were unreadable or cancelled.

File:New Zealand flag referendum two 2016.svg

Of New Zealand's 71 electorates, only six had a majority vote in favour of the alternative flag: {{NZ electorate link|Bay of Plenty}}, {{NZ electorate link|Clutha-Southland}}, {{NZ electorate link|East Coast Bays}}, {{NZ electorate link|Ilam}}, {{NZ electorate link|Selwyn}}, and {{NZ electorate link|Tāmaki}}.{{cite web |url= http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/2016_flag_referendum2/result-by-electorate.html |title= Final Result by Electorate for the Second Referendum on the New Zealand Flag, on the question "What is your choice for the New Zealand Flag" |publisher=Electoral Commission |date=24 March 2016 |access-date=24 March 2016}}

The Māori electorates had markedly low turnout and high support for the status quo. This result confused Malcolm Mulholland of the Flag Consideration Panel, who believed they had adequately engaged with Māori during their nationwide tour.

After the first referendum, the Electoral Commission referred seven cases of people apparently voting more than once to police.{{cite news |title= Flag voting double ups flagged |url= http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/293149/flag-voting-double-ups-flagged |publisher=Radio New Zealand |date= 29 December 2015 |access-date= 18 January 2016}}

On 8 and 9 March, the Electoral Commission referred four more cases of apparent multiple voting to police. This included one case of an Auckland man allegedly voting with 300 ballot papers stolen from other people's mailboxes.{{cite news |title= Alleged flag voting paper theft investigated |url= http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/298496/flag-voting-paper-theft-investigated |publisher=Radio New Zealand |date= 9 March 2016 |access-date= 9 March 2016}}

Voting more than once is known as personation and is identified as a corrupt electoral practice under both the Electoral Act 1993 and the Flag Referendums Act. A person convicted of personation is liable to up to two years' imprisonment and a fine up to $40,000, and carries a mandatory disqualification from enrolling or voting for three years.Flag Referendums Act 2015, §59 and Electoral Act 1993, §224

John Key said that he was disappointed by the result but was still glad that the country had a valuable discussion about what it stood for. The failure of the referendum resulted in a loss of political prestige for Key. Some predicted that this failure would become part of his legacy, though others suggested that this would still be overshadowed by events such as the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and privatisation of state assets.{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/the-flag-debate/78253159/duncan-garner-the-flagging-fortunes-of-a-leader-chasing-a-legacy|title=Duncan Garner: The flagging fortunes of a leader chasing a legacy|last=Garner|first=Duncan|date=24 March 2016}}

Years after the referendum, former Prime Minister John Key said his biggest regret was being unable to change the flag. He still believed the country should adopt a unique flag design to increase its sense of national pride, pointing out how proud Americans are of their national flag. He also believed that as a small country, New Zealand still needs "a symbol that is ours" to raise its profile and make its identity more well-known overseas. In hindsight, he blamed opposition parties for politicising the referendum and turning it a vote on him personally. If he could go back in time, he would have "pushed harder" and changed the flag without a referendum, as the public would become accustomed to a new design after it became official.{{Cite web |title=Sir John Key says if he could redo anything from his time as PM he would change the flag without consultation |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2019/06/20/sir-john-key-says-if-he-could-redo-anything-from-his-time-as-pm-he-would-change-the-flag-without-consultation/ |access-date=15 August 2022 |website=1 News |language=en}}{{cite web|title=Sir John Key reveals his biggest regret|url=https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/john-key-reveals-failure-to-change-the-nz-flag-as-his-biggest-regret/|date=5 April 2018|website=Newstalk ZB |language=en}}{{cite web|title=Driving force|url=https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/john-key-reveals-failure-to-change-the-nz-flag-as-his-biggest-regret/|date=n.d.|website=66 Magazine|language=en}}

Flag Consideration Panel member Malcolm Mulholland said he wasn't sure if the Lockwood flag designs were the best selections for the referendum. According to Mulholland, the Lockwood flags were chosen as compromise designs that were "a bob each way", as they combined the silver fern with elements from the current flag to appeal to people who were indecisive about flag change. In hindsight, he would have chosen a purely silver fern based design, as he observed the public warming up to a flag change later in the debate.{{cite web|title=Expert feature: Flags|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018806487/expert-feature-flags|date=2 August 2021|publisher=Radio New Zealand|language=en}}

Former Attorney-General Chris Finlayson (who was Attorney-General and a minister in John Key's government) commented in his memoir of the John Key years that "I think that New Zealand's flag is out of date and boring, and that we need to make a change but, thanks to the antics of the opposition parties I don't think this will be achieved for many years. I also think simplicity is the answer – everyone, for example, knows the French flag and (because of Russia's invasion) the Ukraine flag. The options that were devised for a new flag were too complex, and I think that could have been part of the reason why the referendum was defeated."{{cite book|first=Chris|last=Finlayson|title=Yes, Minister – an insider's account of the John Key years|isbn=9781991006103|year=2022|publisher=Allen & Unwin|page=80}}

Although the current flag was retained after the referendum, proponents of a flag change were still optimistic. Change the NZ Flag campaign leader Lewis Holden opined that the flag debate "has only just begun". He pointed out that support for the alternative design (43%) was a much closer result than anyone had expected, undermining the stature of the current flag and raising the possibility of a successful flag change in the future. He also noted that factors behind support for a flag change (i.e. cultural diversity, Asia-Pacific links and independent symbols) would only increase in the future.{{cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/299907/this-flag-debate-has-only-just-begun|title=This flag debate has only just begun|last=Holden|first=Lewis|date=25 March 2016|website=RNZ |publisher=Radio NZ }} Change the NZ Flag wound up and its web domain and Facebook page were taken over by New Zealand Republic. Former Green MP Keith Locke also pointed out that the 43% result was a marked increase over previous opinion polls that showed support for change in the 20–30% range. He suggested that a flag process with a better design and less politicisation could feasibly result in a majority vote for change.{{cite web|url=https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/03/26/not-a-bad-result-for-opponents-of-the-colonial-flag/|title=Not a bad result for opponents of the colonial flag|last=Locke|first=Keith|date=26 March 2016|website=thedailyblog.co.nz|access-date=25 May 2019}}

Politicians were not expected to revisit the flag issue for the next fifteen years or so, though becoming a republic may provide the impetus for another attempt at change. Labour leader Andrew Little agreed that it was appropriate to discuss the flag as part of constitutional debates once the reign of Queen Elizabeth II was over.{{cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/299941/time-to-say-goodbye-to-the-monarchy|title=Time to say goodbye to the monarchy?|last=Hassan|first=Mohamed|date=26 March 2016|website=RNZ |publisher=Radio NZ |access-date=25 May 2019}}

• Laser Kiwi flag
• Great Canadian flag debate
• Australian flag debate

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|New Zealand flag referendums, 2015–16}}

• {{Official website|1=https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/wayback/20160418201749/https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/the-nz-flag-your-chance-to-decide/|2=Official referendum and flag submission website}} (archived 18 April 2016)

{{New Zealand flags}}

{{New Zealand elections}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:New Zealand flag referendums, 2015-16}}

Category:Proposed flags of New Zealand

2015-2016 New Zealand flag referendums

Flag referendums

Flag referendums

Category:2015 referendums

Category:2016 referendums

Category:Multiple-choice referendums

2015-2016 New Zealand flag referendums