Is this the future flag of New Zealand? You decide.
It's official. The most popular flag among Kiwis (well, the ones who voted) is Kyle Lockwood's black and blue flag with the fern and Southern Cross.
I'm going to cop a lot of flak from colleagues for saying it, but I'm glad that's the one that won.
I'd have been happy with either of the Kyle Lockwood flags.
To me they sum up our country well.
Our heritage is important so I'm glad there is a nod to our current flag with the blue and the Southern Cross.
Some argue it's too much like our current flag but that's exactly why I like it.
Yes, New Zealand is a young country and our ties to England are loose these days but we can't forget our past.
The fern is equally as contentious.
To me, the fern is the internationally recognised symbol for New Zealand.
If you waved around a flag with a fern on it, many people in countries around the world would immediately be able to identify it as belonging to New Zealand.
It's iconic and is not just related to sport. That's why I'm all for it being part of our new flag.
The proposed flag is one I'd be proud to wave or wear at any event in any country.
Now all that remains is to see if Kiwis want a change or prefer to stick with the current flag.
Earlier in the process I wrote about what a waste of money the whole process was.
I still agree we shouldn't have bothered with the process in the first place but since the money has been spent we might as well make it worthwhile.
Even if you did not vote in the first referendum or chose to spoil your paper as a protest, I encourage you to vote in the next one.
It's your chance to have a say in a $26 million process - let's not waste it.
Personally I like the new flag and feel like we might as well make the most of the money spent rather than doing it all again in a few years' time, so I'm all for changing it.
But if you're dead against it, it is equally as important that you take the time to vote.
Your vote may be the deciding one.
And, as the saying goes, you can't complain if you don't vote.
Patient 'absolutely disgusted' National didn't fund 13 cancer drugs as promised in 2023.