This flag-changing debate is bound to come up over and over again until it is finally changed. I have always believed that we needed to change the flag as it represents a painful colonial history from which we are still suffering the consequences of. But I seem to remember PM John Key talking about how changing the flag wasn’t New Zealand’s most pressing issue at the moment, which was true. What confuses me the most is that this statement is more accurate now than it was before. So then, why the sudden concern?
Firstly, one would think that growing inequality would be a more important issue to tackle than changing the flag. In fact, the United Nations Human Rights council says that New Zealand has 155 issues to work through. This number was 64 in 2009. Although the flag-changing conversation started before this was announced, I find it hard to believe that our government was unaware of the fact that we have more problems now than we did before, especially since a difference of 91 after only 4 years is monstrous.
Secondly, after reading the opinion pieces from the NZ Herald, which are never particularly balanced anyway, it is evident that the conversation is somewhat superficial. This is expected given the nature of the context under which the question came back into the limelight after so long. Key has affirmed that he is a monarchist who is for a flag-change. But what about those of us, myself included, who seriously want to consider changing the constitution and finally becoming a republic? I can’t see that topic ever coming up. Instead, what I see is this whole debate eventually dwindling away until someone brings it up again however-many years down the line.
Like I said, I want to get rid of the Union Jack from our flag, but I also want that occasion to symbolise something more than a mere flag-change. When that happens it will have a deeper meaning regarding acknowledging and taking the final step in becoming our own country and our own people free from an imperial connection. This includes the possibility of becoming a republic. But that will be difficult to do when we have an increasing number of issues to work through together as a nation.
I really think if we are to change the flag it needs to reflect what we see for the future rather than being a history book. I do not like the silver fern on the black flag. Couple of reasons, it is more associated with sport and can remain so and black for a flag is just a bit too sad for me.
The thing I like most for the flag is the Southern Cross, it must stary, that constellation says just about as much as anything, all navigators have used it in the past. A blue or blue and green background to represent that we are an island in the ocean and then I guess the silver fern, as it is so recognisable as an NZ symbol. I do like Kyle Lockwoods design but for me it would be blue on the left green on the right rather than red and blue.
As for a republic, we would need to come up with something much better for me to go with that. Regardless of the past, we are in the now, and I kind of like the steadiness of the constitutional monarchy. I sure as heck would not to see us embark on a headless chicken form of govt (I guess you could argue we already have that).
Tough one that, will require lots of input, lots of consensus and lots of inclusion, lots of time to get it as right as we can
so you want to look like Australian flag with green would like to add the gold too
Blue for the sky or ocean, green for the land, I would have thought that fairly easy to figure out
Do you know Kyle Lockwood’s design at all?
If you think our ‘ painful colonial history ‘ was painful , you aint seen nothin’ yet .
The very day after this dopy flag changing debate rages to a fizzler two things will have happened . Jonky-stien will have scattered enough red herrings around to confuse our Moron Nation into voting for the bastard yet again and then we’ll become a Republic without the luxury of the bananas . Our new masters , the American corporations , will have the whanau on Mexican illegal immigrant pay rates while us Kiwi-As people will be snuggling cosy-as under a bridge-as mate .
If we think the Flag Change idea is as a mark of respect for the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa and to help us all unite as one we’re dumber than we look and go to any The Ware House and see just how dumb we look . If we got 1000 obese , nylon wearing The Ware House shoppers out side on a hot Nor West day in Canterbury then rubbed them all together we’d generate enough static electricity to power the national grid while our sheep wool farmers die in the arse . Yes , that’s how moronic we are !
Any new Flag needs only one word . ” Duh ! “
I really cannot believe that any time at all needs to be spent on this issue. How many people are able to recognize more than maybe half a dozen national flags? A flag is a flag is a flag.
The rebranding of this country’s flag was concocted in the boardrooms of our corporations as a marketing ploy.
For this reason alone it should be opposed.
It is an undemocratic imposition, when as Latifa Faud points out there are far more pressing issues that need to be dealt with.
But issues like poverty and inequality are not as pressingly urgent to our corporate leaders as changing the flag.
And as more, and more, of us are starting to realise, it is only these people’s concerns that are thought to be important.
And what makes this issue so important to these sorts of people anyway?
Is it a wish by them to escape from the last trappings of our colonial past?
Is their wish to change the flag motivated by feelings of national pride and identification?
I am afraid not. Their motive is purely venal and self serving. It is all do with trade, it is all to do with profit, it is all about showing our new trade partners that there remains no hidden hankering for the anglo saxon trading bloc centred on the other side of the world and once known as the British Empire.
Their wish to change the flag has to be seen in the context of the TPPA. The new flag is a symbolic representation of the new consciousness they seek to impose. The TPPA seeks to subject our sovereignty and democratic parliament to the will of the corporates. And the new authority, needs like any change in human affairs, to be formalised, with coats of arms, with crests, with corporate logos, with printed letter heads, with flags. As a signification of the new power in the land.
This explains why the corporates want to change the flag, yet continue the propaganda of elitism and celebrity worship, represented by the expensive upcoming Royal Tour of this country.
It it explains why they refuse to allow any discussion of the colonial imposition of some barely known Dutch explorer’s name onto Aotearoa, because it signifies white colonial mastery.
It explains why we will not be given any democratic choice in which replacement flag we will have imposed on us.
Are flags important?
Flags are signifiers, shorthand emblematic concentrations of underlying concepts.
They identify people to their place of birth and should say something about the history and culture of that place.
The new corporate logo that John Key wants to impose on us, is completely sterile with no connection to anything deep or memorable beyond meaningless and quickly forgotten artifices like sporting contests.
This is why I will be voting against changing the flag at the same time I will be voting against John Key’s venal Right wing administration.
For all it’s faults our current flag at least means something other than money and corporate ideals.
And after all Maori did not sign an agreement with a bunch of corporations identified by tradmarked logo reminiscent of the Nike Swoosh. Maori signed a treaty with the Crown identified with the Union Jack.
P.S. I will give my vote to any party that openly comes out and says that they are opposed to any change in the flag. (I know that won’t be New Zealand First because despite their “nationalist” credentials NZF are angling to be part of the National government, so will not offend John Key by opposing the flag change).
In lieu of no party opposing the change in the flag I will give my vote to Mana.
“anglo-saxon trading bloc” ? Well, I’ve never heard of that before. Are you sure you know about European racial history? The French, the Italians, the Spanish all have large corporations but are not anglo nor saxon. Quit this pakeha bashing!!!
I must have struck a nerve eh Jaybob. These other non-anglo empires weren’t the ones to colonise New Zealand, and their symbols are not on our flag. So to say that they were just as bad is a diversion away from the issue we are discussing.
Some people just don’t like talking about imperialism. (Unless it was practiced by others)
In my opinion, until we can talk about empire, its root causes, and what it really means, the flag stays the same.
John Key’s desire to change the flag is a wish to draw a veil over history.
So if we became a republic who would we have as our head of state… an all black or a pop star or maybe a right wing television commentator.
No I’d rather keep with a constitutional monarchy than that.
IF we don’t like the current royal family we have a perfectly good one in the Waikato with a fully operational king right now.
Te Ata tino Toa says that whatever flag is chosen to fly for NZ, it will fly alongside the Maori flag.
The literal meaning of “Tino Rangatiratanga” is Grand leadership,Gallantry and unity…
we dont live up to that as a nation. poor leadership run this country/world and reflects its people. but i think we should all work towards it. Kia Ora (Be Life) (be well) a higher understanding of thankfulness towards the tangible and non tangible. Mauri ora (the life Force)
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