09 January 2005
Steve Gurney, who thinks New Zealand's flag is "naff", is the latest in a stellar cast of Kiwi athletes to join the campaign to replace our national ensign.
The multi-sport legend, who won the Coast-to-Coast a record nine times, joins former Silver Ferns captain Bernice Mene, who is also calling for change.
"As an international sportsman representing New Zealand I feel quite disappointed that our flag doesn't stand out," Gurney told the Sunday Star-Times.
"It gets confused with the Australian flag and I feel a real loss of pride after putting in a winning performance to see this naff flag raised that doesn't clearly represent us as being uniquely Kiwi. I'd rather see something that engenders pride."
Gurney has a reputation for courting controversy with comedic antics.
But he said weighty constitutional issues, like changing our flag, started weighing on his mind during the Athens Olympics. He said flag-raising ceremonies at the games, featuring New Zealanders on the podium, were hollow.
"And I despair a bit because so many people don't agree. It's obvious to me that we should change.
"I understand the passion and national pride returned servicemen have who risked their life under our flag. I understand their reluctance to change. But I urge them to think about the pride future generations are going to have in something more distinctively New Zealand."
The Sunday Star-Times
© Fairfax New Zealand Limited 2005