1 December 2004
A CAMPAIGN for a new national flag is heating up with the launch of a petition calling for a referendum.
If the nzflag.com trust has its way, New Zealanders could be voting for or
against a flag change at next year's general election.
Campaign manager Iona Pannett said preparation was well under way and the petition
would start circulating early next year. At least 1000 volunteers were needed
to collect signatures.
To be successful, the petition needed 270,000 names, but Ms Pannett said the trust was aiming for 350,000. She was confident the support was great enough.
"It's about promoting and stimulating debate," she said. "We think there is definitely the support out there."
Since Wellington multi-millionaire Lloyd Morrison kick-started the campaign with a $20,000 grant, high-profile New Zealanders, including artist Dick Frizzell, fashion designer Karen Walker and broadcaster Keith Quinn, have got on board. A secondary schools competition to design a flag attracted 2000 entries, and many well-known Kiwis have submitted their own ideas for a new emblem.
If the proposed referendum were successful, a second referendum would be held at the 2008 election to select a design.
Dominion Post
© Fairfax New Zealand Limited 2004