New Zealand votes to keep the current flag

[xxMATTGxx]

As you know New Zealand have been voting to keep the current flag or the alternative and it seems the votes are now in:

The current flag has received 56.6% of the total valid votes, to Lockwood’s 43.2%.

Sources:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/liv...announced-live
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-...nion-jack-flag

[-:Undertaker:-]

Hoorayyyyyyyy great news before I go off to work. Here's to another 150 years of the Union flag and red southern cross flying over the south pacific.

God Save the Queen ya'll.

And here's the rightful flag of New Zealand's heritage next to the Weetabix logo.

[Lucy]

I think a lot of people saw this happening, slightly worried that I read they spent $25 million on this, just to stick with the same flag, but hopefully the argument can be put to bed now. In the end with these things people always seem to stick to tradition.

[FlyingJesus]

Proving for the 2nd time in 2 "major" votes that referenda are a huge waste of everyone's time and money

[-:Undertaker:-]

Here's a bit of history on the current flag which goes to show the age-old lesson that the best flags are those shaped gradually by history and not by a government panel. The British, American, Australian and New Zealand flags are all so meaningful and good looking because they evolved over time.

The first flag of New Zealand to be based on the British blue ensign was introduced in 1867 following the Colonial Navy Defence Act 1865, which required all ships owned by colonial governments fly the defaced Royal Navy blue ensign with a Colonial badge. New Zealand did not have a Colonial badge, or indeed a Coat of Arms of its own at this stage, and so the letters "NZ" were simply added to the blue ensign.

In 1869 the First Lieutenant of the Royal Navy vessel HMS Blanche, Albert Hastings Markham, submitted a design to Sir George Bowen, the Governor of New Zealand, for a national ensign for New Zealand. His proposal, incorporating the Southern Cross, was approved. It was initially used only on government ships, but was adopted as the de facto national flag in a surge of patriotism arising from the Second Boer War in 1902.

To end confusion between various designs of the flag, the Liberal Government passed the Imperial Statute (Empire-wide legislation) Ensign and Code Signals Bill, which was approved by King-Emperor Edward VII on 24 March 1902, declaring the flag as New Zealand's national flag.

And a very true comment from a vexillologist (flag expert) on why a flag is liked or not liked.

Graham Bartram, chief vexillologist at the Flag Institute, told the BBC: "There's often a fundamental misunderstanding of flags by politicians. It isn't the design but what it shows about their history and means to them. Saying you like a flag because of its design is like saying you like your family because they are all handsome or beautiful. You love them because of who they are, unconditionally. Flags are a bit like that."

[JerseySafety]

Never saw this thread until now - the thing that annoys me is yes majority wanted to keep the old flag but the $25 million or whatever has already been spent so it actually is more of a waste not changing the flag. I just feel like most people confuse Australia and New Zealand as it is and with the flags so similar along with being close together we need our own identity.

Happy the old flag stayed but yeh ngl; the money has already been spent so would've been better if the spent money actually resulted in something (Y)

John Key said they won't revisit the issue whilst he's in charge which is a good thing; no more drama. Now to just sort out this TPPA drama