Garth George: We missed our chance to change it and now must wait

I have no objection to changing our flag. In fact, it should have been done back in the early 1970s when Britain slithered into the European Economic Community and, but for the tireless efforts of J.R. (later Sir John) Marshall, would have left New Zealand facing economic disaster of unimaginable proportions.

But in spite of our sense of betrayal, no one so much as thought of it back in those days when the trappings of nationhood were still firmly embedded in our British heritage. So instead of telling the Brits to shove it, we stuck with it.

However, now is absolutely the wrong time to consider changing the national flag. The proper time will be when we declare a republic. The timing is particularly inopportune right now because of the significance being placed on the Maori tino rangatiratanga flag.

Our new national flag will, I desperately hope, not be a Maori flag. A flag representing a minority race, not a cosmopolitan nation, would be as inappropriate as our existing flag, which is essentially British.

The tino rangatiratanga flag is definitely out. Red and black are not only the colours of death but colours associated with anarchy and pan-Arabism.

And any other flag that has a Maori theme should not even be considered. The national flag must be representative of an independent nation in all its complexity yet must at the same time be simple and instantly recognisable.

Since we are known all over the world for our All Blacks, Tall Blacks, Black Caps, Black Sticks, Black Ferns, black boats et al, the predominant flag colour will have to be black.

A silver fern on a black background commends itself, even if the fern does look a bit like a white feather. A kiwi on a black background would at least be honest, since we lack a strike fighter force and are to all intents and purposes flightless and defenceless. And the Southern Cross can be seen well beyond our borders.

As a last resort, perhaps, considering that we are infested by thieving Australian-owned banks and businesses owned by multinational corporations, which annually suck billions of dollars out of our economy - thanks to Douglas and co and their successors - we could well consider appropriating the Jolly Roger.

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