Allinformtion.com- The New Zealand government on Wednesday (10/29/2014), announced that it will hold a referendum in 2016 to replace the country's national flag. Prime Minister John Key hopes to eliminate the British flag and replaced it with a picture of a silver fern leaf in the new flag later.
"The flag is the most important symbol of our national identity and I believe this is the right time for the people of New Zealand to change the national flag with a design that reflects the country's status as an independent state and modern.
"The flag is the most important symbol of our national identity and I believe this is the right time for the people of New Zealand to change the national flag with a design that reflects the country's status as an independent state and modern.'' said key.
Earlier, Key had said he envisions a flag with a black base with a silver fern leaf image on it. Silver fern leaf symbol is often used sports teams of New Zealand, for example, the rugby team is nicknamed the All Blacks.
John Key reiterated his promise to change the country's flag after winning a third term in elections last month. However, the plan was to get opposition from citizens' groups Reviews such as groups of veterans.
Nevertheless Key estimates the opportunity to change the flag reached 50 percent. But some polls show the majority of New Zealanders still like the current flag.
In a poll held by TVNZ television station last February showed 72 percent of New Zealand flag resist change and only 28 percent agreed with the change of the national flag.
Another survey that was held at the New Zealand Herald last March showed 52.6 percent of respondents rejected the flag changes, 40.6 percent agreed changes and the rest did not answer.
Flag of New Zealand is currently featuring four stars representing the Big Dipper constellation South with a dark blue background. In the left corner there is the British flag, the Union Jack.
This flag was first used in 1869 and was officially adopted as the national flag in 1902. Opponents of the flag change New Zealand said hundreds of people have died defending the flag so the flag is equal to the change does not respect national heroes.
While the proponents of the change say the current flag of New Zealand is often regarded as the Australian flag, which has five stars in its flag.
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