Wairarapa runs flag ideas up pole

NEW LOOK: Gerad Taylor, of Greytown, and some of his NZ flag designs. PHOTOS/LYNDA FERINGA

Wairarapa residents are having their say on a new New Zealand flag.

People from the wider Wellington area, including Wairarapa, have submitted 329 flag designs as part of the Government's Flag Consideration Project.

Greytown graphic designer and illustrator Gerad Taylor has presented more than 30 designs.

Mr Taylor said he had strong ideas about what he thought a flag should be. The overwhelming common denominators for flags of the world was they were simple, graphic, emblematic and non specific.

He agreed with artist Dick Frizzell, who has stated a flag was not an illustration of a story but something symbolic and almost abstract which people could chose how to interpret.

Mr Taylor also felt the Southern Cross was a good link to New Zealand's past and should not be thrown away.

"But a new flag should embody New Zealand as separate and distinct from colonial England."

The colours should reflect the green of the environment and the white of the long white cloud.

One of his favourite flags was blue, green and white and included the Southern Cross. He said it was strong and simple graphically.

Another Greytown resident, Gregory Montgomerie-Crowe, has submitted three designs.

"I think its time that we changed the flag ... We're no longer British," he said.

He had always felt strongly about changing the flag. He did not like the current flag and said it looked too similar to Australia.

His favourite submission was turquoise and blue, representing the South Pacific Ocean. It also included a silver fern and a koru representing harmony and new beginnings.

The Flag Consideration Project began this month with the public being invited to suggest their flag designs. The period for suggestions closes on July 16 and a panel will select a shortlist of four designs in September.

Mr Montgomerie-Crowe said he was not a designer but felt strongly about the flag issue and wanted to have his say.

As of Wednesday morning, there were 2114 designs suggested by submitters in New Zealand and overseas.

A postal referendum in November and December will determine the preferred alternative flag. A second postal referendum will be held next March to decide between the current flag and the preferred alternative.

Returned Services Association (RSA) national president Barry Clark said his initial opposition to the referendum and flag change had not changed now the project was under way.

It was a $26 million process and he understood about $7 million was the cost of the flag referendum panel. He said the Government was effectively giving $7 million to a group of people to convince people the flag should be changed.

New Zealand First leader and Northland MP Winston Peters suggested people write "no change" on their first voting slip which would invalidate their vote. Mr Clark also encouraged people to do so.