Masterton rotarians offer 'sixth' flag

JOKERS: Sir Brian Lochore, Flag Consideration Panel member, pictured at a breakfast meeting of the Rotary Club of Masterton at which Rick Long presented him with a "sixth option" New Zealand flag that included an image of the former All Black. PHOTO/ANNEKE WOLTERBEEK

A sixth flag option has been proposed in Masterton that packs down the Southern Cross stars of state with the face of a New Zealand knight and legendary All Black.

Sir Brian Lochore, a Flag Consideration Panel member and former All Black captain, coach and selector, had been earlier this month invited to speak about his job on the flag panel at a breakfast meeting of the Masterton Rotary Club, according to member Rick Long.

Two binding referendums will be held regarding the New Zealand flag and its design. The first referendum will run until December 11 and asks voters, "If the New Zealand flag changes, which flag would you prefer?"

Voters have been asked to rank five alternative flag designs selected through the flag consideration process.

In March next year, voters will be asked, in the second referendum, to choose between the most preferred option from the first referendum and the current flag.

The flag that receives the most votes in the second referendum will be the official flag of New Zealand.

Mr Long said himself and Roddy McKenzie, a fellow Rotarian and former Masterton deputy mayor, had together hatched the plan to present Sir Brian with "what we thought was a sixth option".

"He thought it was a great joke. He took it home and I suppose he's put it up on his wall, at least I hope he has," Mr Long said.