Originally called “First to the Light” the geometric design by Arron Dustin was one of the 10,292 submissions viewed by the Flag Consideration Panel and made it as far as the official long list of 40, before being cut from contention.
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‘I’m certainly detecting a sense of disappointment, that out of 10,000 wildly varying designs, they have come down to four nearly identical [original] ones – two by the same person, ‘ he said.
New Zealand’s government has made a dramatic U-turn on its competition to design a new national flag, and is allowing a fifth wild card entry.
The conservative New Zealand First party, which is opposed to any changes to the flag, has said it will block the legal changes.
Green Party MP Gareth Hughes said his bill was about giving New Zealanders a choice, following the groundswell of support for the Red Peak flag to be included.
Given Mr Seymour’s support for the design inspired by the Maori creation myth, he was asked whether he would replace his silver fern pin with a Red Peak.
The backflip comes a week after President of the Association of Consumers and Taxpayers party David Seymour presented a petition to have the Red Peak flag included in the upcoming referendum. The four designs on the shortlist were criticised for their similarity to each other.
On his way into Parliament, Mr Key said it was likely the government would pick the bill up.
A spokeswoman for Mr Key said National would not block the Greens’ bill.
“In the end, I’m not wanting to be the one that stands in the way of people having some choice”, he told reporters.
Meanwhile earlier today the Prime Minister batted away suggestions the flag change is about creating his place in the history books. Asked on Wednesday about the potential of Red Peak being ranked top in the first referendum, he replied, “It doesn’t matter”.
On his way into Parliament Prime Minister John Key said the Government would pick up the bill if it was blocked in the house.
“We think it’s time to put politics aside and do what people want, which is give them more choice”. “My bill recognised that the referendum was going to go ahead anyway so it may as well include an option that a large number of Kiwis want”.
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Another referendum will then take place in March next year, when the population will make a final decision between the current flag and the elected alternative.
