by Allanah Leahy – EM TV Online
Opinion polls revealed that 69 per cent of New Zealanders do not want to change the nation’s flag design, after seeing the final four options.
The four final options were put forward by New Zealand’s Flag Consideration Panel at the start of the month. The public is to vote on a final choice in November.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key dismissed the poll results, saying seeking out a new flag design through the public is always a “tough ask”.
Prime Minister Key urged those supporting the flag change not to give up yet, and described the poll as inaccurate. He said it was too simple of a ‘yes or no’ question to only 1,000 people out of New Zealand’s total population of around four million.
10,292 designs were put to New Zealand’s Flag Consideration, who narrowed the designs down to four selections.
New Zealand’s flag change has been challenged for decades, with the main argument being that the flag is too similar to Australia’s and completely ignores the country’s Maori population.
