Change the NZ Flag campaign dead
It was reported on One news tonight that Lloyd Morrison's campaign to get a referendum on changing the New Zealand flag has collapsed. Morrison blames apathy for failing to get sufficient volunteers to fill petitions.
For me the project was always going to fail. This story and the (related) republican debate have little traction in New Zealand. To suggest confusion with Australia's flag is a sad indictment on personal education standards- and particularly a less than rudimentary standard of vexillology. For a start the Australian flag has more stars and they are white - ours are red.
If flag confusion is the subject try the Russian Federation and the Netherlands see above.
FYI - Russia is on the Left (funny that!)
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4 comments:
But the Russian Federation chose their flag.
Have YOU chosen yours?
Yes I have chosen my flag. Ample opportunities to choose another flag to serve. Options are still there.
A question for you - by extending your logic, the Russian Federation will seek approval from succeeding generations for the flag?
Maybe you want to elaborate on how exactly YOU (personally) chose your flag.
The Russian Federation chose a new flag to express the country's changes (loss of many Soviet 'annexed' republic states) and new governing system. It was done at the right time (for them). I am sure if major changes were to happen in their country in the future, they would change their flag accordingly. Considering Russia's interpretation of democracy, I really doubt they will ask their children or grandchildren.
But that is NOT the case of NZ, is it? Is there still a democracy in NZ? Citizens can still express their opinions without being jailed or ridiculed, right? Where is the problem in asking new generations if they want a new flag? If new generations feel they are better represented by a new flag, why not?
But again...yes, I agree, you are 100% right. This campaign was doomed. It would have always failed. Mostly because the generation most concerned about it is already living in Australia or the UK. Not suprising they don't care about the flag.
I think the real problem with the campaign was that there was little sentiment for change among enough people to push the referendum, AND there was no obvious single alternative.
I suspect many who may have considered change (generally those who 'see' too strong a resemblance to Australia's flag) did not want open pandora's box to all manner of fanciful designs - particularly indigenous motifs. Few of the designs floated seemed to have a southern cross - unique to our quartersphere. If a flag is a point of reference what better than to use a celestial reference set - used by navigators for eons.
My evidence for no appetite for change? - none, though the massive volume change at rugby matches once the Maori verses of the National Anthem are done says something. People are comfortable with the traditional.
I also think the actuality of the whole NZFlag.com thing was the inverse of what was intended. Rather than grown up, it looked and sounded very provincial. Brits are not seeking to change the Union flag because there was no mandate from the current generation.
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