All Blacks' win 'could influence flag vote'

Many fans were waving the current flag at the World Cup final. Photo / AP

World Cup will be fresh in NZers’ minds — but so will royal visit

The All Blacks' Rugby World Cup victory and a royal visit could have a bearing on the upcoming flag referendum, an expert says.

The first of two referendums on the national flag will begin on November 20, soon after the World Cup and the return of Prince Charles and Camilla to these shores.

Massey University researcher Malcolm Mulholland, who is a member of the Flag Consideration Panel, said these events would be fresh in New Zealanders' minds when they posted in their vote.

"I would expect people would be thinking a lot about the silver fern in light of the All Blacks' victory. People will look at the logo on the hearts of every All Black and connect to that. And I think people will be thinking about our relationship with Britain given the royals are coming for a visit."

Three of the five alternative flags feature silver ferns.

Mr Mulholland said the All Blacks' influence on the vote could "go either way". The existing flag was displayed behind the team when they sang the anthem on Sunday, and could be more closely associated with the victory.

Mr Mulholland said Prince Charles' visit this week would be, at the least, a reminder of New Zealand's ties to "Mother Britain" and the Union Jack.

However, he also said that just three out of 53 Commonwealth countries outside the UK - New Zealand, Tuvalu and Australia - still carried the Union Jack on their flags.

Monarchy New Zealand spokesman Sean Palmer said countries such as Canada had changed their flags decades ago but had given no thought to distancing themselves from the Queen of England.

"The connection between the monarchy, New Zealand and its flag is really not affected by its design," he said.

Returned and Services Association national president BJ Clark, whose organisation wants to retain the existing flag, said he observed a large number of fans flying it at the Rugby World Cup final.

"I was personally surprised ... to see so many," he said.

"I think it's an indication that the majority of New Zealanders are still for the retention of the current flag."

Labour Party internal affairs spokesman Trevor Mallard said he believed the events would make little difference to the vote, especially because the existing flag was not an option in the first referendum.

He said none of the alternative flags bore a close resemblance to the silver fern on the All Black jersey. The most similar, the black and white fern design, had proven unpopular in public polls, he said.