This was our old flag:
Had it not been for a British Naval officer stationed in Sydney we could’ve been debating whether we keep this one as our national flag. But that officer gave us the one we have and in March we can vote to keep it or change it.
Kyle Lockwood’s design, Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue), was the most preferred option for an alternative flag in the referendum.
The next most preferred flag design was Option E: Silver Fern (Red, White and Blue), followed in order of preference by Option B: Red Peak, Option D: Silver Fern (Black and White) and Option C: Koru.
The total votes received were 1,546,734, which includes 149,747 informal votes (9.7%) and 3,372 invalid votes (0.22%).
Voter turnout is 48.78%. Turnout is calculated by taking the total votes received as a percentage of the total number of voters enrolled as at 19 November 2015 (3,170,726). . .
We were discussing the flag referendum with Argentinean friends.
They thought Kyle Lockwood’s black and blue flag with the fern and stars was the one that was most recognisably New Zealand’s.
As one said, “I don’t know the name of the plant but I know it’s New Zealand.”
The fern has been used as a symbol for New Zealand by New Zealanders for more than 100 years.
It marks war graves in other countries and the graves of returned service people in New Zealand. It has been and still is used by our armed forces, sports teams and their supporters, businesses and Kiwis who are proud to be Kiwis.
We were watching news on television in Spain in July when I saw a woman wearing a silver fern broach. I knew she was a New Zealander before I heard her speak and learned she was High Court Judge Lowell Goddard who is chairing an investigation into child sex abuse in the UK.
We now have the chance to vote for a flag which better represents New Zealand than the current one.
It’s an historic opportunity to choose a new flag. Minister in charge of the process Bill English says:
“This is an historically significant choice we have in front of us.
“We now have some time to consider the two flags side by side and have a good think about which one of them best represents us as a nation now and into the future.” . . .
The flag with the fern represents us far better than our existing flag.
I know the name of the plant,I would like it on our flag so that it says New Zealand and I will be voting for it.
Homepaddock 
I was keen on changing the flag, and I’m even keen on a silver fern or a koru, and I agree with what you say about the fern symbol being recognisably New Zealand. But this flag is poorly designed clip-art. I’m very unhappy about the process which has yielded such a dull result. So I’ll be voting no change, in the hopes that we can have another go in a few years time, and this time around have a much better design process.
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I doubt, Deborah, there will be another chance to change the flag for a considerable time.
The Canadian experience had similarities to ours, and the furore at the time was immense. A relatively recent poll showed the support for The Maple Leaf to be overwhelming – around 95% plus!!
Have courage Deborah and I suspect in years to come you will be pleased you did.
I will be voting for change.
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Did I see that the loser Lockwood design was used at a recent Ping Pong event.
The current flag will satisfy my regard for the past and the Nation’s heritage.
The branding and logo creators can continue with nice upmarket designs, eg the 1974 Commonwealth games emblem with its multifaced NZ red white and blue cube design.
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I like the simple NZ added to the current flag as you have shown in your post.- fit it in around the stars.
mrspdm and I were either informal or invalid votes in the first referendum.
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What planet do the Greens think this is?
Don’t they understand the concept and purpose democracy?
Red peak got caned, now please STFU !!
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At home, I cannot imagine myself contemplating putting up the old flag. I recognise it. I respect it. I look at it as a symbol of our nation. But for some unknown reason, I have very little personal pride for it. I have searched deeply, as to why. I believe condescending remarks by my parents about people flying it, and images of NZers’ disrespecting the flag may have lead to this?
I have however erected a silver fern, in the form of an all blacks flag. And I felt proud doing so.
I can imagine myself contemplating put up the blue and black fern flag. And doing it with pride.
There is still time for me to form my voting views, but at this stage I have a strong view for change.
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We’ve been flying the current NZ flag at our place for years.
The current almost continuous westerlys kept it flying high throughout the referenda process.
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