Northlanders join flag design affray

CHANGE: Clive Crombie entered despite being in favour of keeping the current flag.

Northland residents are having their say on a new New Zealand flag, with supporters of the current flag even throwing their ideas into the mix.

Northlanders have submitted 38 designs as part of the Government's Flag Consideration Project.

Graphic designer Travis Orams of Whangarei wanted to be part of the process, despite loving the current flag and what it stood for.

"Even though I'm in favour of keeping the flag ... I also think that if we are going to change the flag, then it needs to be something that still represents who we have been and where we want to go to."

His design was based on the ideals he liked to think New Zealand stood for. His flag incorporated koru, the Union Jack and the Southern Cross.

Northland man Clive Crombie also entered designs despite being in favour of keeping the current flag.

He said he put his ideas forward because he thought some of the designs already submitted were "atrocious" and the project needed a bit of serious input.

His designs included images of kiwi derived from the old Air Force kiwi, silver ferns and the Union Jack. Mr Crombie thought his best design was a flag with a predominantly red background with a silver fern.

"If the flag was going to be changed, I'd like to see it kept fairly traditional."

The Flag Consideration Project began this month with the public being invited to suggest their flag designs. Suggestions will close on July 16 and a panel will select a shortlist of four designs in September.

BETTER: Travis Orams wanted to be part of the process and created this flag.

As of Tuesday morning, there were 1979 designs suggested by submitters in New Zealand and overseas.

A postal referendum in November and December will determine the preferred alternative flag. A second postal referendum will be held next March to decide between the current flag and the preferred alternative.

New Zealand First leader and Northland MP Winston Peters and Returned Services Association (RSA) national president Barry Clark suggested people write "no change" on their first voting slip which would invalidate their vote.