It was a case of second time lucky as the alternative New Zealand flag was hoisted on the Auckland Harbour Bridge this week.
The Kyle Lockwood fern and Southern Cross design is now the right shade of blue after the first flag raised on the bridge was the wrong colour.
A Flag Consideration Project spokeswoman last week said the fabric weight and printing technique used to produce the initial flag had resulted in a lighter blue than voters will consider in the final referendum.
It cost some $4000 to produce the new flag, including the price of a back-up flag "in reserve for weather damage", in line with Transport Agency protocols.
Voters will be able to vote for the current flag or the Kyle Lockwood design in a referendum from March 3 to 24.
