20 July 2004
Wellington International Airport maintenance worker Alan Brooks checks out one of the 30 alternative New Zealand flags being hung in the airport terminal today to "welcome" the visiting Wallabies and their fans for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup clash. The alternative flag is being promoted by Wellington businessman Lloyd Morrison, a director of the company Infratil which owns two thirds of Wellington Airport.
However, a spokeswoman said there was no connection between Infratil's ownership and the decision to fly the alternative flags.
Airport chief executive Simon Draper said the airport decided not to use the traditional flag as it could be mistaken for that of Australia.
Meanwhile, three more high profile New Zealanders, former world champion triathlete Erin Baker, actor, film director and writer Ian Mune, and Sustainable Business network chariman Chris Morrison, have joined a list of people keen to change New Zealand's flag.
Ms Baker said New Zealand needed a flag everyone could instantly recognise and feel proud of. "I would be very surprised if I am the only New Zealander that never quite knows how many stars we have, nor feels any ownership of it."
So far, more than 50 prominent New Zealanders are pushing for a referendum on a new national flag.
the trust running the website, www.nzglag.com is seeking 300,000 signatures by early next week.
The Dominion Post