Do the flags fly with kids?

(L-R front) Sasha Bedekar, 7, Cooper Kennard, 8, Duncan Isherwwod, 8, Christina Loftus, 7; (L-R centre) Bessie Su, 8, Tony Yu, 7, Ishan De Zoysa, 7, Libby Nicholls, 8; (L-R back) Sam Bashford, 8, and Adam Hughes, 8. Photo / Dean Purcell

A fern on the flag is okay but please keep the red, white and blue ... That's the message from Year 3 students of Victoria Avenue School in the Auckland suburb of Remuera, who formed an impromptu unofficial Flag Consideration Panel.

The 10 students, aged 7 to 8 years, discussed the four short-listed designs from the real panel as a group.

When the Herald showed them poster-sized examples, five pupils chose the design by Kyle Lockwood - the silver fern, red, white and blue with Southern Cross.

The alternative design of a silver fern on black and white received one vote.

Four of the group did not want a change from the present flag.

School assistant principal Anne Bridgman said the children had a focus lesson on the flag debate when many design options were on the table.

The group ended with its own referendum.

"Keeping the current flag was the most preferred option."