Kyle Lockwood, the designer of New Zealand's alternative flag, designed the silver fern which adorned the first prototype Electron rocket and Rocket Lab's official 'It's a Test' mission patch.

CEO Peter Beck approached Kyle in 2014 for a licence to use his silver fern design.  

We congratulate Rocket Lab on the successful launch of the Electron Rocket, and we are proud that our silver fern design played a part in the test launch today.    
silverfernflag.org​

​Our silver fern design will feature in a tribute to the ANZACs, The Silver Fern has been used as a distinctive marker of New Zealand troops since the 19th century.

25 April 2017 marks the anniversary of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landings on the Gallipoli Peninsula. On this important day, millions of Australians and New Zealanders will honour their fallen in commemorations worldwide.

Lifewear approached us for a licence to use our fern design on their shirts, and we are proud to be part of their commemorative ANZAC shirts. This fully printed polo is a tribute to all men and women who served New Zealand. It is of a respectful style with traditional fold-over collar, A timeless profile and modern generous fit. This polo keeps the wearer cool and dry, and the lightweight AirCool fabric offers sun protection and creates a soft mesh-like feel that ensures breathability.
The shirts are available at Lifewear

 ​The Christchurch United Football Club wanted something uniquely New Zealand on their jerseys, and chose our Silver Fern Flag design to feature on their new uniforms.

For those living in Christchurch, do go and check out Christchurch United's state-of-the art artificial pitches, top quality natural pitches, fit-for-purpose floodlights, and a 500-seat grandstand which will soon be flanked by new offices, changing rooms and a café that will create the best year-round  football environment for players, parents and supporters.
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Christchurch United FC has set itself extremely high standards to deliver a world-class football experience, both on and off the pitch, from their elite players, to the First Kicks toddlers and weekend warriors battling in the masters grades.

​Over the years Silver Fern Flag has licensed the design to many proud kiwi non-profits and companies – including Rocket Lab, who will soon launch from Mahia – ​revolutionary new rockets carrying our silver fern design, and satellites into space.
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​We have also licenced the New Zealand Elite Triathlon Team to use our fern and are more than happy to licence our design to all kiwi sports teams, not just the elite ones. 

For more on licensing | silverfernflag.org/licence
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Info on Christchurch United | cufc.co.nz
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silverfernflag.org

New recruits Juan Chang, (Guatemala) and Colin van Gool (Netherlands) model the new jersey, with coach Fernando Lambert.  - Photo CUFC - Used with permission

​THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD
Now he is Prime Minister, English said the flag referendum showed constitutional changes such as the flag or a move toward a republic should not be led by politicians. "That is the lesson from the flag referendum. I oversaw the process for changing the flag, I voted for changing the flag. In the end, a lot of the voting became a bit of a political vehicle, probably because it was proposed by the Prime Minister."

OTAGO DAILY TIMES
Kyle Lockwood's Red white and blue flag is flying at Harrington Point

​Flags, flags everywhere. Shawn McAvinue asks why so many residents in a small settlement at the northeastern end of Otago Peninsula are flying flags. Harington Point crib owner Don Shanks said the flying of flags just "evolved" in the "tight-knit community".

See more at https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/settlement-shows-its-true-colours

"After snaking through the initial bends on Queen Charlotte Drive at the foot of the Marlborough Sounds, you eventually arrive at a house peering over the glistening water with two giant flags waving in the wind and a letterbox with a Porsche painted on it. One of those flags is the Kyle Lockwood silver fern design, the alternate to the current New Zealand flag. The other is that of the San Jose Earthquakes, the Major League Soccer franchise."

 See more at - Stuff  http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/87669197/the-year-kip-colvey-cracked-americas-big-league-signing-his-first-professional-football-contract-with-san-jose

An Auckland town's tribute to Kiwi musicians and entertainers has to be redesigned in a 'David and Goliath' battle with Hollywood. The twelve star plaques honour famous Kiwi entertainers. But Hollywood Walk of Fame own the rights to any five-pointed object in the ground worldwide, according to Stage 51 director and Austin Powers impersonator Gary Brown of Red Beach, north of Auckland.

JAY BOREHAM - FAIRFAX  ​​http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/82131020/orewa-walk-of-fame-on-the-move
Last updated 14:12, July 15 2016

​On the eve of the United Kingdom's EU Referendum, Silver Fern Flag designer Kyle Lockwood chats to the BBC about the recent NZ Flag Referenda, and a British Political Science Professor Andrew Russell believes that a new flag for NZ could happen sooner than we think...
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Click on the link below to listen.

​As you will know, New Zealanders recently voted in the final flag referendum and the Current NZ Flag was chosen as our flag for the future.
 
In light of the result, the Crown has returned all intellectual property rights in the Silver Fern Flag to Kyle Lockwood. Therefore should you wish to sell the Silver Fern Flag, you should do so with Mr Lockwood's agreement; Mr Lockwood can be contacted at [email protected].
 
Thank you very much for your support during the Flag Consideration Project, it is greatly appreciated.
 
NEW ZEALAND FLAG CONSIDERATION PROJECT

NEW ZEALAND LISTENER    
Issue 3959    1st April, 2016   Editorial

"So. After two referendums and a national debate that was far more bruising and acrimonious than anyone expected, we remain where we started: with a national flag that many New Zealanders still have trouble distinguishing from Australia’s, and which identifies us as a quaint British outpost in the South Pacific. The people have spoken – and as former Labour Party leader Mike Moore was fond of saying, the people are always right, even when they are wrong."

See more http://www.listener.co.nz/commentary/features/flag-referendum-win-democracy/

Designer Kyle Lockwood chats to One News about the Silver Fern Flag, Click image to view report.

If your flag gets chosen in the referendum, does that mean you get paid?

No I will not.  I have assigned the rights to the Crown and would receive no payment whatsoever.


What will you do with your flag if it isn't successful in the referendum?

The Crown will assign the rights back to myself, There are a large number of supporters of the Silver Fern Flag, possibly over a million kiwis, and I will continue to sell the flag online through silverfernflag.org as I have done since 2006.

What does it feel like right now, when thinking your design could be the new NZ flag?

To be honest, it's huge and a little overwhelming. 
 
My grandmother flies my flag in the Wellington wind each day, and probably the most emotional and humbling moments for me have been seeing it flown around the country everywhere on boats, beaches, baches and buildings, and seeing it flying representing New Zealand in exotic places around the world has been pretty humbling too!

Have people recognised you? What's it been like to be in the 'public eye'?

I'm just an ordinary guy and life has been as per usual for me.  I've had people recognise me in the street and compliment me which was very nice of them.

 
Have you ever met John Key?

I'd never met him in my life until just a couple of weeks ago at an informal gathering where the designers from the first referendum were invited to attend by responsible minister Bill English, and acknowledged.
 
 
There's been criticism of the process, your design, and even that you are not a designer, what do you think of that?

I am an architectural designer with a 15-year international career in architecture, so I 'eat, breathe and sleep' design for a living.  I first designed this flag 16 years ago and have since carefully refined it a number of times based on feedback from leading international vexillogists. 
 
Of course there are going to be different viewpoints for all sorts of subjective reasons.  I remember a headline when the four alternatives were first announced "Four alternative flags, four million opinions" and that sums it up really!

 
Do you think the Flag Consideration Panel could have done things differently?

I don't think there's anything significant that you could do differently - they had a tough job to do.  It was a robust process, and let's face it, a selection had to be made by someone!  The fact that people get to vote on it in a democratic referendum process made me pretty proud to be a Kiwi! 


Change the NZ Flag, along with many high-profile New Zealanders have been promoting your flag, what's your involvement in that?

I'm not part of that organisation or have any financial part in it.  Of course, I'm very humbled by the many people who have shown support for the Silver Fern flag, and I thank them immensely for their passion and enthusiasm!

What's next for you? You've bought back the 10-year passport, you have designed what could be New Zealand's next flag, will you be writing a new national anthem for New Zealand?

I'm a designer, and definitely not a songwriter! I tend to campaign for matters that I am passionate about, and that I feel are beneficial to Kiwis both in New Zealand, and overseas!

silverfernflag.org

NZ LISTENER
3 March 2016

The Listener argues that the debate over changing New Zealand’s flag has been distorted by political motives and distractions such as cost concerns. It urges voters to refocus on the key issue: whether the current flag truly represents New Zealand’s independent national identity or still reflects its colonial ties to Britain through the Union Jack. Historically, the existing flag was adopted when New Zealand strongly identified with Britain, but the country has since evolved into an independent, multicultural nation with strong ties across the Pacific and Asia. Symbols like the silver fern have long held cultural significance, including for Māori. Many other former British colonies have already removed the Union Jack from their flags. Drawing on Canada’s successful flag change, the article argues that adopting a new symbol could strengthen national pride and identity, and that failing to act would be a missed opportunity for NZ.

Read more: http://www.listener.co.nz/commentary/features/flag-of-the-bold/

There's been a few questions lately about the appearance of the fern on the Silver Fern Flag.

​It was decided early in the design phase to stylise the silver fern on the flag, just as the Canadian flag has a stylised maple leaf, the reason for stylisation is so the fern-leaf on the flag looks right when it's aloft in the breeze.

We've also been asked why isn't the fern silver?

In flag design convention, there are 5 official colours and 2 official metals, design rules stipulate that a colour must be separated by a metal.

Silver is represented in white just as gold is represented in yellow.

As a current serviceman deployed abroad I am watching (and voting) from afar and through my own poll with the numerous other nationalities I am currently working alongside, the silver fern is by far the one they can easily identify NZ with. Not only is the silver fern adorned on the NZ headstones in the numerous war graves around Europe, but also prominent on the current NZ Army and NZ Defence Force (NZDF) branding.

That said the flag is for all of NZ, not just the military. By applying the military appreciation process ‘Observe, Orientate, Decide, and Act’ an informed decision can be realised without political or organisational interference and bias so the action taken on the voting paper is an individual’s choice.

Through this referendum we have a chance to make history and provide a NZ identity for our grand and great grandchildren to rally under, rather than living in the past.

As a serving member of the NZDF I remain loyal to the NZ Flag of the day, it is my hope that come the 24th March 2016 we can march proudly into a future under a flag that is uniquely distinguishable and recognisable of NZ advancing, and not, marking time.

*Tim

(*Name changed to protect the identity of the author currently deployed abroad on active service)

The author, Kieth Locke, supports changing New Zealand’s flag and criticizes left-wing opposition to the referendum. They argue that although some claim the referendum wastes taxpayer money, that reasoning would oppose any referendum. Others say it isn’t a priority, but the author believes national symbols shape identity and independence, particularly by removing the Union Jack’s colonial symbolism. Claims that the debate is a diversion underestimate citizens’ ability to engage with multiple issues. While nationalism can be problematic, the author prefers a modern flag for international events. They reject the idea that the proposed design belongs to John Key, noting it existed before his involvement. Although the selection process and some designs were flawed, opportunities for progressive change should be seized when they arise.

- See the full report at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/03/01/odd-alignments-in-the-flag-debate/#.dpuf

© 2016 Crown Copyright 

NZ FLAG FACT NUMBER 51
 
The silver fern (Cyathea dealbata), called ponga by Māori, is endemic to New Zealand. Māori used native flora to navigate their way home through the forests at night. They would break-off several fronds of the silver fern and leave them silver side up so that the moonlight would reflect off them. This night-time trail served as a homing beacon. Over the years, deer cullers and possum hunters have also used the fern for this purpose. Māori also have a whakatuakī (proverb) that is closely associated with the silver fern: 

Mate atu he tetekura, Ara mai he tetekura. 
As one chief dies, another rises to take their place. 

When said in the context of the silver fern, the translation becomes: 

As one frond withers and dies, another rises to take its place.

He tete, or frond, stands for a chief. Sir Tipene O’Regan of Ngāi Tahu once reminded author and academic Dr Danny Keenan (Ngāti Te Whiti Ahi Kā, Te Ātiawa) that ‘to Māori, the silver fern denotes strength, stubborn resistance, and enduring power, encapsulated in a natural form of native elegance. Māori have always honoured the fern, giving it a pride of place.

From New Zealand Flag Facts by historian Malcolm Mulholland. Read more at: 
http://www.silverfernflag.org/press/new-zealand-flag-facts-book  © 2016 Crown Copyright