Eric Murray plans to take alternative flag onto podium

Eric Murray and Hamish Bond celebrate winning gold at the London Olympics. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Olympic gold medalist Eric Murray is prepared to celebrate with an alternative New Zealand flag at the upcoming rowing world championships, to show his support for a flag change.

Murray and coxless pair partner Hamish Bond are gunning for a fifth consecutive world title in France next week and told Tony Veitch on Radio Sport this morning that if they get on the podium he'll take an alternative flag up.

Murray has previously been in support of the current New Zealand flag but has changed his mind since the launch of the flag referendum.

"If you actually get given the choice and you start thinking about it the ideas start coming to the fold and I think having the public debate and public opinion on what they perceive to be a more patriotic flag to New Zealand," Murray told Tony Veitch.

Eric Murray, top right, holds the New Zealand with fellow gold medalists at the London Olympics. Photo / Mark Mitchell

"We've had some pretty cool designs come out and I have to say the one I picked is not even in that top 40."

Murray is a fan of a blue and black flag that has both the Southern Cross and silver fern on it.

"If we get up there on the podium, like we're aiming to, then no doubt we'd like to hold up a flag. Many years we've held up silver fern flags and we've held up the current New Zealand flag. It's a pretty cool thing to be able to do as an athlete. To represent our country, to represent and the people of New Zealand and obviously ourselves and if we get the honour of being up there on the dais - we went to promote it proudly."

"The great thing about sport is that no one cares if you have a silver fern flag."

Murray said everyone in the rowing team has been thinking about the change and estimated 90 percent of the team wanted to change the flag. But finding one flag that everyone agreed on will be difficult as everyone has a different favourite.

Fellow Olympic medalist Nick Willis tweeted earlier this week that wanted the flag to remain as it is.

"Not a fan of a New Zealand flag change. Was very proud carrying current one into the @London2012 stadium. Dad wants a new one!." Willis said.

Not a fan of a New Zealand flag change. Was very proud carrying current one into the @London2012 stadium. Dad wants a new one!

— Nick Willis (@nickwillis) August 19, 2015

The Government this month released a 40-strong longlist of potential new flags.

The list will be whittled down to four by a selection panel next month. New Zealand voters will then get to rank the quartet in a postal referendum which will be held over November and December.

The top-ranking flag will then go head-to-head with our current ensign in another referendum next March.