The Marquis de Leech Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 In order to distract from actual issues, our Prime Minister has announced a referendum (costing some $26 million) on changing the New Zealand flag. Annoyingly, it's a two part referendum, with keeping the current flag not being an option in the first part (the first referendum is simply to find the best alternative via preferential voting, with the second determining whether it beats the current one). Here are the four finalists, and frankly it looks like someone was trying to engineer a victory for one of the fern options: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/final-four-new-zealand-flags-which-is-your-favourite/12595802/The-fern-represents-us-and-should-be-on-our-flag Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the current one, but it's better than any of those four, and I resent this thing becoming a Prime Ministerial ego project. For that reason I'll be voting for the so-called hypnoflag in the first referendum, on the basis that it's least likely to beat the status quo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ser Scot A Ellison Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Ban books but hey look a new flag!!! I like New Zealand's existing flag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horza Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Kiwis it is your duty to vote hypnoflag, that thing is all kinds of eldritch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJDonegal Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 What's the purpose of the red in the fourth flag? Purely on aesthetics I like the first (upper left) option, but if the red quadrant in the lower right suggestion holds much/any meaning then it might serve as a better flag. What's behind the huge desire to remove the Union Jack? Is the Queen not still the head of state? Not that that stopped Canada... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fez Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Really makes no sense to me that the vote on what the replacement would be is coming before the vote on whether to actually replace the current one. Seems to me it should be the other way around, and that way the second vote can just be cancelled if it fails. That said, All Glory to the Hypnotoad flag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tyrion I Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Really makes no sense to me that the vote on what the replacement would be is coming before the vote on whether to actually replace the current one. Seems to me it should be the other way around, and that way the second vote can just be cancelled if it fails. That said, All Glory to the Hypnotoad flag Indeed. I like the current NZ flag. (But I do see the points in the article in favor of the fern.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Marquis de Leech Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 What's the purpose of the red in the fourth flag? Purely on aesthetics I like the first (upper left) option, but if the red quadrant in the lower right suggestion holds much/any meaning then it might serve as a better flag. What's behind the huge desire to remove the Union Jack? Is the Queen not still the head of state? Not that that stopped Canada... The red in the fourth flag is to create design symmetry with the red stars. It also coincidentally looks a lot like the logo of a plastic plate company: http://www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/newsworthy/what-to-do-if-you-hate-all-the-flags-2015090213#axzz3lKjlEPSG The no more Union Jack thing is dressed up as (1) national pride (independence!) and (2) our current flag looks like Australia's. But really this is the PM wanting a legacy. We're talking about the guy who restored knighthoods after the previous government abolished them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Marquis de Leech Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 All Glory to the Hypnotoad flag https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBTvo5rtQAI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xray the Enforcer Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I prefer the newly proposed flags over the status quo. If nothing else, including a reference to the indigenous population of New Zealand in its flag is a positive (if entirely symbolic) step forward. And in case y'all think symbols are not powerful, I refer you to the debate from earlier this summer involving another flag... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Marquis de Leech Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 If you want to introduce a Maori element, there's the proposed red peak flag: http://idealog.co.nz/media/VERSIONS/eight_col_01red-peak_large.jpg It mysteriously didn't get past the panel though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xray the Enforcer Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 That one's pretty cool, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempra Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Ban books but hey look a new flag!!! I like New Zealand's existing flag.I don't think the NZ (or Oz) flag, by itself is ugly, despite the constant reminder of its colonial past (the Union Jack). Unfortunately, a sizable amount of Aussies and Kiwis (and pretty much everyone else) can't tell the two flags apart. I'm a fan of the new 5th option that is trying to gain status to be voted on as part of the referendum: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34171294 Edit: the link is to the Red Peak linked above by Roose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo498 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I think the red is preferable to the black field because too many colors is confusing. I prefer the options on the right, the upper right one would show a clear departure from the British-based flag, the lower right one would be a compromise (like the old flag, it's still to complicated, IMO). The Hypno-flag on the lower left simply looks ridiculous, I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxom 1974 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 My best friend, who had been living in NZ for the last 19 years, is in town with his partner, I'm seeing then tonight and will be asking their opinion. I believe they've had some Facebook stiff up in the past on the brouhaha... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkynJay Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 The spiral one immediatly made me think of The Nightmare Before Christmas and that is all I will ever see now if it wins. I like the read peak too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ser Scot A Ellison Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Of the options presented I like the black and white fern, the Hypnoflag, and option five, in that order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fez Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBTvo5rtQAI Sometimes, I love the internet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gears of the Beast Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 If you want to introduce a Maori element, there's the proposed red peak flag: http://idealog.co.nz/media/VERSIONS/eight_col_01red-peak_large.jpg It mysteriously didn't get past the panel though. Yes it did and so did another one that looks very similar, it just didn't make the final 4. I kinda like the Black Jack from that list but I would agree this is a waste of time and money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corvinus85 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 The stars on 2 of the versions seem to form a crucifix. Is that on purpose? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gears of the Beast Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 The stars on 2 of the versions seem to form a crucifix. Is that on purpose? That's the Southern Cross. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.